LRID Parking District enforcement

From Alderwoman Debi Ross

The approved parking district for Lakewood signs have been installed. Notification has gone out in the form of the Lakewood newsletter that is mailed to all residents in the LRID. Below is the information the residents received in the newsletter. Enforcement will begin January 1, 2010. Our number one goal should be education for the individuals for one reason or another that did not know of the new regulations for the first few months. The Code Department and Police Department have the authority to write citations.

On September 28, 2009, the City Council of North Little Rock adopted Ordinance No. 8196 establishing the LAKEWOOD RESTRICTED PARKING DISTRICT #2. The District was established after application was made by the Lakewood Recreational Improvement District in accordance with Ordinance No. 8128, the City’s Parking Ordinance. The boundaries of the Restricted Parking District are identical to those of the Recreational Improvement District. The specified area and map is on file with the NLR City Clerk’s Office. I am providing this simplified narrative to introduce the district residents to their new parking regulations.

Within the Lakewood Restricted Parking District, the rules for parking vehicles are now more stringent. The following rules apply in addition to the rules that apply throughout the City:

1. Parking on front or side lawns is prohibited.

2. Parking commercial vehicles is prohibited.

The first rule means that whenever someone in the district parks a vehicle in front of their house or beside their house, it must be parked on an improved surface of concrete, asphalt, or pavers. The term “vehicle” includes cars, trucks, motorcycles, boats, trailers, and the like. Please note that the definition of side yard does not include areas behind a fence. So, this rule does not regulate vehicles parked behind a fence or in the backyard.

The second rule only regulates commercial vehicles, which are generally defined as: (1) construction and transport vehicles; and (2) vehicles that require a commercial driver’s license for operation. It does not apply to vehicles just because they are labeled with commercial advertisement, such as a work truck or van. The rule means that commercial vehicles can only be parked within the district while conducting business.