LATHROP – It’s like a beast that keeps coming back in Lathrop’s collective nightmare – what to do with pervasive illegal truck parking in the city.
On Monday, at their first meeting this month, the Lathrop City Council will again tackle this persisting problem. But only for discussion based on staff reports as to possible options to remedy the situation, and no council action will be taken.
The three options presented by staff to launch the discussion involve the possible provision of public and private truck parking lots, and the possible modification of the municipal code which would allow trucks to park overnight in designated streets in town and in the Crossroads Business Park on South Harlan Road.
As requested by the council members when they directed staff to find out possible solutions to the city’s truck parking dilemma, staff obtained input from the police services and fire prevention district – i.e., Lathrop-Manteca Fire District.
Police Services brought up a number of concerns regarding the option to modify the city’s municipal code. Among those concerns are the potential increase in trash occurrences such as urine bottles, feces bags, paper and food wrappings, and the visibility impacts of the giant trucks to residents and motorists which are safety issues. There are also the concerns of oversight, lacking which elements of criminal activity – that is, prostitution, theft and property damage – might result thereby exacerbating an already existing problem. Noise levels created by the monster vehicles such as the sound they make when they are idling could also pose a serious problem to residents.
As far as the fire district is concerned, one of their main issues involve the type of things that are being hauled by these trucks.
“There is a need to know what, if any, is being hauled by the truckers and to be able to limit it. A detailed permitting process might work. This needs to be worked out with LMFD,” was the comment that came from the fire district. Staff commented to this concert by stating that the city will work with the district on the “limits placed on the permit to prevent vehicles hauling objectionable items from parking on the treet.”
The fire district is also concerned about distances between parked trucks, for safety and emergency reasons. The district is suggesting that Christopher Avenue in the Crossroads Commerce Center on South Harlan Road could provide “the best on-street parking spots” not only because of its width but also because its location takes it out of visual site from freeways.
The council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 390 Towne Center Drive at Mossdale Landing.
On Monday, at their first meeting this month, the Lathrop City Council will again tackle this persisting problem. But only for discussion based on staff reports as to possible options to remedy the situation, and no council action will be taken.
The three options presented by staff to launch the discussion involve the possible provision of public and private truck parking lots, and the possible modification of the municipal code which would allow trucks to park overnight in designated streets in town and in the Crossroads Business Park on South Harlan Road.
As requested by the council members when they directed staff to find out possible solutions to the city’s truck parking dilemma, staff obtained input from the police services and fire prevention district – i.e., Lathrop-Manteca Fire District.
Police Services brought up a number of concerns regarding the option to modify the city’s municipal code. Among those concerns are the potential increase in trash occurrences such as urine bottles, feces bags, paper and food wrappings, and the visibility impacts of the giant trucks to residents and motorists which are safety issues. There are also the concerns of oversight, lacking which elements of criminal activity – that is, prostitution, theft and property damage – might result thereby exacerbating an already existing problem. Noise levels created by the monster vehicles such as the sound they make when they are idling could also pose a serious problem to residents.
As far as the fire district is concerned, one of their main issues involve the type of things that are being hauled by these trucks.
“There is a need to know what, if any, is being hauled by the truckers and to be able to limit it. A detailed permitting process might work. This needs to be worked out with LMFD,” was the comment that came from the fire district. Staff commented to this concert by stating that the city will work with the district on the “limits placed on the permit to prevent vehicles hauling objectionable items from parking on the treet.”
The fire district is also concerned about distances between parked trucks, for safety and emergency reasons. The district is suggesting that Christopher Avenue in the Crossroads Commerce Center on South Harlan Road could provide “the best on-street parking spots” not only because of its width but also because its location takes it out of visual site from freeways.
The council meeting will begin at 7 p.m. in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 390 Towne Center Drive at Mossdale Landing.
