Prospect Heights closer to restricting truck parking

New rules in Prospect Heights that will restrict parking of commercial vehicles in residential neighborhoods are one step away from approval.

Aldermen could vote Monday on the restrictions that will affect construction contractors, landscaping businesses and others who park their work vehicles at home.

The intent behind the measure is to reduce the visibility of commercial vehicles in areas zoned for single-family houses.

The proposed ordinance includes a new definition for commercial vehicles, height restrictions and limits on square footage of company signage on vehicles. Under the proposed rules, violators can be fined between $25 and $750.

An initial proposal that would have largely prohibited parking commercial vehicles in residential areas was met by strong opposition from local business owners. The new rules relax the restriction by allowing one commercial vehicle parked on a driveway. Other commercial vehicles would need to be in garages or areas screened from visibility.

The city has been discussing the changes since last fall.

In April, the planning and zoning committee unanimously recommended approval, and the city council held the first of two required hearings on the proposal last week.

Here's a look at the new proposed requirements:

• Only one commercial vehicle may be parked on a driveway.

• Commercial vehicles are defined as those with a D-plate or any vehicle between 8,000 pounds and 12,000 pounds (except personal vehicles with no signage, logos or accessory equipment such as ladder racks), B-plate or those less than 8,000 pounds with signage and accessory equipment, trailers with signage and accessory equipment and box trucks or cube vans.

• The maximum height, including any racks or equipment attached to the vehicle, is 9 feet 2 inches.

• The maximum amount of displayed signage or logos is 24-square-feet in total. The signage rule will not be enforced for the first year to give business owners time to comply.

• Vehicles parked on driveways or parking pads must be screened from adjacent properties with a 6-foot solid fence or nondeciduous trees to screen the vehicle.

• Between Nov. 1 and April 1, one vehicle with a snowplow may be parked in a driveway.

The city council meeting is 6:30 p.m. Monday at city hall, 8 N. Elmhurst Road.