
Officials in upstate New York are considering a ban preventing tractor trailers and other large vehicles from parking in all city-owned parking lots.
The ban was proposed at the Common Council meeting in Gloversville, New York on Tuesday, December 26th in response to an increased number of semi trucks, utility trailers, and Recreational Vehicles being parked in lots across the city of Gloversville.
According to The Leader-Herald, the issue came to light back in July, after the city passed a new ordinance banning trucks from parking in parking lots along Frontage Road and Elm Street due to the accumulation of junk cars and other large trash. Now the July parking ban, though helpful in the reduction of trash, has made parking nearly impossible for truck drivers passing through Gloversville, forcing truckers to park in the transit department parking lot, as well as in the parking lot of Darling field, getting the attention of city officials.
“I don’t know if they have been parking in the city lots for many years, or if it seems like there are more tractor trailer drivers in the city now than there has been previously,” said Mayor Dayton King, who claims the city looked for a parking solution for truckers before passing the ordinance in July, but failed to find one.
One suggestion brought up by Third Ward Councilman Vincent DeSantis, is that the city designate specific lots for truck parking and charge a small fee. “I would really like to eventually see is working towards having a specific space that is concrete and available for them [truck drivers],” DeSantis said.
At the conclusion of Tuesday’s Common Council meeting, no decision had been reached, though it was decided that trucks parking in lots throughout the city would not be ticketed until a proper solution to the parking issue is reached.
“It’s not the city’s responsibility to find parking for people. I’ve been here for eight years and this hasn’t been an issue for eight years,” said Mayor King.
“I’ve got to think that either people have new jobs, or they no longer can park somewhere else… I think we want to help people who work in the city and live here, however, if it is space we need for city resources we can’t use that.”