09-05-1985 Regular Called Meeting

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Chairman Wilson and Members of the Commission City of LaPorte Page 2 • • of any particular citizen comment that recommends a change in the proposed Ordinance, but rather would commend to the attention of the Commission the requirement that the proposed Ordinance, together with any changes that the Planning & Zoning Commisssion might care to make in the proposed Ordinance be clearly and identifiably related to the Comprehensive Plan. Citizen comments are not necessarily placed in the order received by the Commission, but are reorganized for purposes of clarity. Relatively minor issues are tackled first, with major policy decisions being reserved to the end of this presen- tation. What follows, then, is the staff analysis of the citizen input received at Planning & Zoning Commission's public hearing held on August 15, 1985: 1) 2) !'r Definition of Commercial Motor Vehicle and Light Truck: Comment was received which indicated that both definitions -should ~ include a phrase that a commercial motor_ vehicle or _a. light truck is one which is larger than one ton. Changing the definition would allow the typical residentially owned and based welding trucks to be parked in residential areas without screening or other impact abatement. These trucks are usually one ton rated trucks that don't cause permanent pavement damage. On the other hand the one ton truck is usually cumbersome and aesthetically unpleasing. They may be difficult to keep on site due to the size. Sometimes corner lot truck owners desire additional curb cuts off of major arterials. It should also be noted that some hazards might exist to children from these trucks."Also, the City Thoroughfare Plan indicates as an objective that truck traffic should be limited to designated truck routes. Defining Comm ercial motor v ehicles and light trucks to include one ton vehicles means that parking of these one ton vehicles would be permitted in residential areas. ANALYSIS: The comprehensive Plan includes no specific prohibi- tion against these trucks in resid ential areas and it would seem that the truck traffic contemplated by the thoroughfare plan to be restricted to truck routes does not specif ically include one ton vehicles. Therefore, changing the definitions to include one ton vehicles would not frustrate the intent of the comprehensive Plan. ~~ 1 _ ~i Fence: o ~ Del' Citizen comment indicated that th's definition should include wroua r i ;on ences or acce~ta le steel_ mesh fences. The definition of fence relates specifically to decorative or security fences placed on residential, commercial, light