Raleigh leaders approve front-yard parking ban

Raleigh, N.C. — Raleigh city leaders on Tuesday approved an ordinance that would prohibit people in certain parts of the city from parking their vehicles in front yards.

For years, the City Council has discussed a citywide ban but has never been able to reach a decision.

The vote Tuesday is a compromise that will concentrate on certain areas, such as southwest Raleigh near North Carolina State University.

That's where the city has seen some of its worst offenders, partially because of the number of college students renting homes in neighborhoods where parking on the street requires a city permit.

Neighborhoods across the city would also be allowed to use the ordinance to regulate parking.

The City Council will hold a public hearing Sept. 4 for residents to give their input.

Also on Tuesday, the City Council heard a report from city staff about overhauling Capital Boulevard – many parts of which have become rundown or are prone to flooding.

Among the $60 million in improvements is widening Capital Boulevard to six lanes for the entire stretch between Interstate 440 and downtown and adding new interchanges at Peace Street and Wade Avenue.

City leaders also approved a plan to add bike lanes to three sections of Oberlin Road – from Groveland to Clark avenues; from Bedford Avenue to Mayview Road; and Wilshire Avenue to Colonial Road.

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Latest Comments

They should refine the ruling to Rental homes only.

logitech
June 21, 2012 5:32 p.m.

Do some of you negative (I'll do what I want) posters not want to take any pride in your community? If you want to live like pigs, move to a farm, far, far away from people who want to be neat. Sometimes we need to think of others and how our behavior and what we can live with affects them.

itsmyownopinion
June 21, 2012 9:45 a.m.

For all of you that don't mind our capital looking like East LA...not to worry. Like a lot of the HOA rules, this will be shot down by some liberal judge eventually. The reality is that as the population grows, and more of us live in close proximity, and our actions DO impact others' home value and quality of life, we need some rules to live by. As for annexation, if you don't want it, fine. Then start paying extra for ANY service, infrastructure, amenities, access to jobs, etc you utilize, that the town and it's citizens help pay for.

common tater
June 20, 2012 6:03 p.m.

There are 35,000 students at NCSU. They are all concentrated into a small area. Of course they are going to park in yards. So why is this an issue? Because of real estate speculators who are buying up properties near Hillsborough Street, tearing down the old houses on them and building fancy new houses. Once they move in, they start complaining about the older rental properties around them driving down the value of their "investment". They don't see themselves as speculators, just concerned homeowners. They want to live real close to the university but not be bothered by the students.

tran
June 20, 2012 4:13 p.m.

I would like to see a map of hte "certain Parts" of the city.

lsr
June 20, 2012 3:42 p.m.