Salado aldermen approved at their Feb. 1 meeting an ordinance prohibiting the parking of vehicles in front yards of single-family residences and requiring a seven-foot fence to screen vehicles parked in the rear yards of single-family residences.

The ordinance states: “It shall be unlawful for any person to park or to cause, suffer or permit the parking of a vehicle, boat or equipment on any surface that is not an improved surface as defined in this ordinance, within the front or side yard of a single­-family residence subject to this section. It is presumed the registered owner of the vehicle or equipment is the person who parked, caused, suffered or permitted the vehicle or equipment to be parked in violation of this ordinance.”

Read the Draft Yard Parking Ordinance Here

The ordinance further states, “It shall be unlawful for any person to park or cause, suffer or permit the parking of a vehicle, boat or equipment on or within the rear yard of a lot with a single-family residence unless the vehicle, boat or equipment is located behind a seven (7) foot tall wooden fence. Temporary parking of a recreational vehicle, boat or equipment for the purpose of loading or unloading is permitted but shall not exceed a period of twenty-four (24) consecutive hours.”

“A vehicle, boat or equipment parked on the roadway shall not impede the flow of traffic or block the view of intersections, crosswalks, or traffic control signs,” the ordinance states.

The ordinance defines “improved surface” as “An area, excluding a driveway, the surface of which is comprised of selected materials constructed to a depth sufficient to distribute the weight of a vehicle or equipment over such area to preclude deterioration and deflection of the area due to vehicle or equipment load, adverse weather, or other conditions. Examples of materials with which an improved surface might be constructed include asphalt, concrete, permeable pavement or other materials approved by the Village Administrator or his designee.”

Violators of the ordinance shall be guilty of a “Class C misdemeanor and, upon conviction, will be subject to a fine not to exceed five hundred dollars {$500.00) per offense…. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.”

“We will try to gain compliance before issuing tickets” Village administrator Don Ferguson said.

The motion was approved on a motion by alderman Fred Brown receiving a second from Frank Coachman. It takes effect 10 days after official publication in this edition of the Salado Village Voice.

See public notice on page 2D.