Apopka studies relaxing thorny prohibition on street parking

a driveway.

“We pay our taxes, and we have nowhere to park,” the frustrated homeowner said.

The measure prohibits leaving cars too close to fire hydrants or in places that block mail delivery or trash pickup.

It also regulates the parking of trailers and RVs.

The fine for a parking infraction would be $40 under the proposal. Those fined would have five days to pay or request a hearing. small garages and short driveways.

The current proposal grew from a series of meetings held by a citizen committee steered by police representatives.

Residents commented on the draft Monday night, and police Chief Mike McKinley said they’ll look at making revisions before presenting a final version to the City Council.

Allison Varble, a Piedmont Lakes resident, said the new proposal is still too restrictive because it forbids parking in a cul-de-sac and within 12 feet of their driveways.

Apopka leaders passed the unusual prohibition in 2012, though at one point the city stopped enforcing it.

Recently, the number of parking tickets has spiked with a spate of complaints in certain neighborhoods.

Some residents have argued the street parking ban is unreasonable, especially for families with multiple drivers.

Also, many residents in the Piedmont Lakes subdivision feel the law is unfair because their homes were built with

Apopka is looking to end its ban on street parking in favor of a new approach to keeping residential roads clear of cars.

In place of the ban is a plan to allow homeowner associations to craft rules for curbside parking in their communities.

The proposal is an attempt to resolve an ongoing dispute between those who dislike vehicles cluttering up neighborhood streets and those with more cars than they can fit into