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Prospect Heights considering stricter parking rules for commercial vehicles

Prospect Heights residents with large pickup trucks, vans and work vehicles may have to alter how they park at home under proposed ordinance changes.

In an effort to curb commercial vehicles from openly parking in residential districts with single-family homes, the city's planning and zoning board will consider an overhaul of rules for commercial parking today. Some of the proposed changes mean residents may have to build fences, pour concrete parking slabs or plant evergreen trees to avoid getting a ticket.

Dan Peterson, director of building and development, said the city wants public feedback because the changes would have an effect on many residents.

"A lot of guys who have been legal for 40 years will have to find a new place park their vans or trucks," Peterson said.

Here's a look at some of the proposed changes:

• No vans, trucks or commercial vehicles between 8,000 pounds and 12,000 pounds with "D" plates could be parked or stored on the front driveway.

• Only one "D" plate vehicle could be parked outside a garage, and it must be parked on an asphalt, concrete or pavers surface. That vehicle must be screened from the view of any adjacent property with a solid gate of wood in the front, a 6-foot solid fence or nondeciduous trees.

• All vehicles under 12,000 pounds with company signage, ladder racks or equipment - including those with "B" plates - would be prohibited from parking in the front driveway. These vehicles must be parked in the side or rear yard and properly screened.

• Trailers and equipment could no longer be stored on the front driveway but rather in a garage or approved side or rear yard.

• Snow plows attached to vehicles less than 8,000 pounds may be parked on driveways from Dec. 1 to April 1.

Repeated violations of the proposed ordinance changes could result in citations between $50 and $750.

If planning and zoning board members recommend the changes, the ordinances would be considered during either the Feb. 12 or Feb. 26 city council meeting.

The planning and zoning meets at 7 p.m. today at city hall, 8 N. Elmhurst Road.

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