Council adopted legislation that would ban front yard parking, citywide. The measure was unanimously adopted at the December 4 City Council meeting.
The issues of front lawn parking and the paving of driveways and accessory driveways have been discussed since mid-July, where it was first introduced in the City Council Building and Building Codes Committee. Mayor Bob Stefanik initiated the discussion, proposing a front yard parking ban.
Stefanik said that the ban was sought to target toward habitual abusers. When enacted, the ban will not impact those who park their vehicles in their yards temporarily, such as when there is construction or for a party. He noted that other surrounding communities, such as Parma, Strongsville and Middleburg Heights has similar legislation on the books.
The ordinance amends the city’s codified ordinances, Part 4 Traffic Code, Chapter 452 Parking Generally. The amendment states that “it has been determined that the parking of vehicles on a tree lawn or front yard lawn should be restricted to a period of no more than 24 hours in order to discourage those who wish to park vehicles on their lawns for an extended period of time.”
The legislation’s amendment includes creating a new paragraph that provides for the restrictions.
The new amended legislation reads as follows (changes reflected by italicized text):
452.03 PROHIBITED STANDING OR PARKING PLACES.
(a) No person shall stand or park a vehicle, except when necessary to avoid conflict with other traffic or to comply with the provisions of this title, or while obeying the directions of a police officer or a traffic-control device, in any of the following places:
(1) On a sidewalk, tree lawn or front yard lawn, except as provided in division © of this section;
(d) A property owner shall be permitted to authorize vehicles to be parked on the tree lawn or front yard lawn, for a period of not to exceed 24 hours.
(d) (e) Except as otherwise provided in this division, whoever violates division (a) of this section is guilty of a minor misdemeanor. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of or pleaded guilty to one predicate motor vehicle or traffic offense, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the fourth degree. If, within one year of the offense, the offender previously has been convicted of two or more predicate motor vehicle or traffic offenses, whoever violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor of the third degree.”
Council had also discussed the topic of gravel driveways and the possible banning of gravel driveways. The city has experienced stormwater problems due to gravel driveways, often those on a slope, that wash away during heavy rains. The rain transports the gravel down the street and into the storm sewers. Also, some residents have dumped a load of gravel on the property and then park their vehicles on them. Some think that it creates an aesthetics issue. They discussed grandfathering existing gravel driveways, but then enacting a requirement that, when an improvement is made, the driveway must then be paved with asphalt or concrete. An outright ban was also discussed, or setting limits to what would be allowable for gravel, such as the length of the driveway. They also talked about the possibility of having the driveway be made of asphalt or concrete a certain distance from the right of way, in order to alleviate the problems associated with the gravel washing into the sewers.
Stefanik said that the issue with the gravel can be addressed by laws on the books that address these measures, as Council President Larry Antoskiewicz previously stated. As far as the parking legislation, Stefanik said that “this is just another tool we have to make North Royalton look like the city we want it to be.”

By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer