The City of Atlantic’s Community Protection Committee (CPC) will meet this (Wednesday) evening at 5:45 in the Council’s Chambers at City Hall. On their agenda is a review of changes to the City Code (Ordinance), with regard to: Truck and Large Vehicle Parking; Parking for Personal Vehicles, and, the Zoning Code pertaining to the location of boats, boat trailers, campers and travel trailers.

Currently, the Truck and Large Vehicle parking Ordinance prohibits those vehicles (which include motor homes, RV’s, farm machinery or other motor vehicle with an attached trailer or detached) on any street, alley or public thoroughfare, unless engaged in the delivery or receiving of merchandise or cargo. Additionally, no vehicle exceeding 10-tons is allowed to be stored or parked on any lot or parcel within a residential zone, and, boats/boat trailers, campers, RV’s, or (5th wheel) travel trailers are not to be placed, stored or maintained within the front yard of any zoning district. They must be placed on a hard surface (concrete, asphalt or limestone), and not within view of any corner lot. A front yard may be used for a period not to exceed 48-hours for loading/unloading only, or for temporary storage (Not to exceed 7 days), if the facility is owned by a proven guest of the premises’ occupants.

City Administrator/Zoning Commissioner John Lund says the CPC will have to answer questions that include:

• Should the (aforementioned) Ordinances be re-written, simply change the wording of a few, or repeal one?
• Does the City want vehicles, other wheeled items parked on grass? Vehicles are currently not allowed to be parked on the grass.
• And, does the City want gravel or the appearance of such, to act as an “improved surface,” with regard to parking on private property. As it stands currently, personal vehicles may be parked in a garage, carport or on an all-weather driveway (defined as paved, gravel or stone). Personal vehicle are not to be parked on the grass. Parking may occur in the rear yard or side yard setback, if on an all-weather parking space connected by an all-weather driveway, to a dedicated public right-of-way and/or alley.

Lund cautions the Committee, that if they declare gravel to not qualify as an “Improved surface,” do they “Have the stomach to tell people who claim not to have the money to afford a concrete pad that the must install one, or receive civil fines in court?” The Committee’s recommendations will be passed on to the full Atlantic City Council during their next regular meeting in July.