Winston-Salem, NC-- City council voted in favor of an ordinance that forbids some residents to park their cars in their front yards.
The last time city council addressed the ordinance was in July. However, council did not vote on the ordinance because of remaining questions about what neighborhoods and what residents are eligible for the permit to ban parking on front lawns.
Some members of council said this has been an issue in the city for years but on Monday night they reached a compromise.
It's not a city-wide ban. The revised ordinance would make neighbors responsible for their own neighborhoods.
The revised ordinance also states that neighbors would need to designate an area. Then they would have to get 60 percent of the people living in that area to sign a petition saying they don't want people parking on lawns.
News 2's Liz Crawford talked to Councilman James Taylor on Monday afternoon. Taylor is in favor of the revised ordinance because it's not a blanket ordinance. He thinks it's a compromise that leaves the outcome up to individual neighborhoods.
Councilwoman, Denise Adams spoke at the meeting. "Me and mine, we can live with this in the communities I live in and represent. We need this and I'm sure they will applaud us for doing something versus nothing," said Adams.
"For those people who want this in their neighborhoods, we are providing this tool in their tools box. This is very similar to the tools that homeowner's associations provide to some of their residents. Now everybody doesn't have a homeowner's association," said Councilman James Taylor.
On Monday night, some key points clarified the questions council had in the past:
- The designated area for the ban must be at least 100,000 square feet. That's roughly one block.
- People who own more than one lot in the area will still only be allowed one vote per person.
- Properties with more than one owner are allowed only one vote representing the majority position of the home.
The ordinance takes effect December 1, 2012. Enforcement will be triggered by complaints
Click on Winston-Salem To see full revised Ordinance
Related: Winston Salem Updated Ordiance for parking on front lawns
WFMY News 2