Rockdale Planning, Zoning Commission revises parking, adds more materials
ROCKDALE, Texas (KXXV) – The Rockdale Planning and Zoning Commission is holding a public workshop at 6 p.m. Tuesday to revise its new parking ordinance, which has sparked heated reactions from residents.
- The Planning and Zoning Commission is revising a new parking ordinance that restricts parking on the street and on lawns.
- The ordinance raises concerns among low-income residents, most of whom have small or no driveways.
- The commission is considering allowing gravel or stone driveways.
TRANSCRIPT OF THE MISSION:
Jeanette Behrens has always had a driveway made of stones.
“We have been here since 2017,” said resident Behrens.
However, this is now at risk due to a new parking regulation.
“If you have something we have, it should be grandfathered in,” she said.
This is one of the reasons why the city decided to revise it.
““We’ve identified over 600 properties in the city, residential properties in the city, that are in violation of the ordinance as it is written,” said City Manager Tim Kelty. “So if we require our residents to comply, that’s going to put some burden on them.”
The ordinance requires our neighbors to park on surfaces such as asphalt and concrete.
“It’s something that, as you know, can impact and diminish the overall value of a property,” Kelty said.
And prevents them from parking in front gardens, side gardens and on streets.
Most places have small or no driveways.
“My work truck just doesn’t fit in the driveway,” said longtime resident Christian Carrasco.
And most were made of gravel or rock – surfaces that the Planning and Exploration Commission is considering approving.
“I think it’s great. There are more people who can afford something like this,” he said.
However, they believe that the city should not interfere.
“We already pay taxes on our properties and we pay for our properties and I consider them my property,” Carrasco said.
Unless they pay for it.
“I mean, if they want to get people to do it, they have to do something. They have to get subsidies. They have to help people pay for it,” Behrens said.
