Clarification due on cars in front yard
PARKING BACK ON THE FRONT BURNER: Several readers have been asking for an update on what the city is doing to address/revise/ enforce front-yard parking rules. A few, like Carolyn Beske, write to say some homes just don’t have enough parking for a family. “Suppose a private dwelling has two parents, two or three adult children and a grandad living in it — that adds up to five or six people. Then suppose four of them have jobs and each has a car. So, if (only) a small number of cars may be (parked in the driveway) — tell me where are the other cars to be parked and available for daily use?
“And why does this bother some neighborhood people? I see no problem with many cars in a yard so long as they aren’t junked.”
Many others have written, called and emailed to say having neighbors park on what used to be grass or gravel but is now dirt lowers the value of their property and neighborhood.
In 2007 the City Council voted to ban the practice of parking in front yards other than in driveways or drive aisles. The Planning Department has said that because there was no grandfather clause in the ordinance, homes built before 2007 were not covered and those residents could essentially turn their front yards into car lots.
And many readers say their neighbors have.
The City Council disagrees with that interpretation. Now, here’s the update: Melissa Perez, public information officer for the Planning Department, says “front-yard parking is covered in the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO). The specific section of the IDO is Part 14-16-5-5(F), which is titled “Parking Location and Design.” This section states, related to parking in residential zone districts, the following:
“‘Parking in residential zone districts or for low-density residential development is prohibited on any portion of the front yard setback other than on a driveway or drive aisle meeting the standards of this IDO and the DPM.’ ”
OK, but what about homes built before the IDO was passed last year? Will we be in the same situation after the wellintentioned 2007 legislation? Maybe. Perez says “in the original submission to City Council, the IDO did contain language that would have made the above referenced regulation retroactive. However, that language was removed by City Council during the IDO approval process. The Planning Department will be seeking clarification from City Council in March to see if their intent is to have the front-yard parking standards in the IDO be retroactive. That clarification is vital for our Code Enforcement Division so they know which properties are subject to the new revised regulations in the IDO.” WHY ARE THEY RIPPING UP
MEDIANS? Debbie asks in an email “why they are tearing up the medians on Eubank south of Constitution? True, they’re not as nicely landscaped with trees and/or plants as the other medians in the area — they are covered with crushed glass and rock — but at least they don’t grow weeds. Are they planning to put in landscaped medians?
“It doesn’t seem to me that it was that long ago that the crushed glass/rock was put in there. Was that just a temporary measure? It just seems like a waste of money to come in and redo.”
Mark Motsko, who’s with the city’s Department of Municipal Development, says “median work on Eubank will replace the recycled glass with trees and shrubs from Interstate 40 to Constitution. This is part of the city’s very popular prototype median landscape program.
“Construction started in January and expected to run until early spring.” MORE ON VETERANS ON THE BUSES: While a few readers have pointed out not all veterans — only those with specific medical qualifications — qualify for a free city bus pass, which will also work on ART when that gets up and running, Peter Lawton has another take.
He points out that bus passes for riders age 62 and older and those with mobility impairments are just $12, “not bad.”
A full list of fares and passes is at cabq. gov/transit.