City tweaks parking regs; no camping on streets
Parking or camping in an RV on city streets for an extended length of time will soon be illegal in Columbia Falls. Here, an RV is partially on the sidewalk not far from city hall.
The city of Columbia Falls is again tweaking its parking ordinances, after police have run into problems with some of the current codes.
After a first reading last week, council approved changing the law to make it illegal to park in an alley if they block access.
The new law reads thusly:
“No person shall park a vehicle within an alley on City right of way or obstructing City right of way in such a manner or under such conditions as to leave available less than 10 feet of the width of the roadway for the free movement of vehicular traffic, and no person shall stop, stand, or park a vehicle within an alley in such position as to block the driveway entrance to any abutting property,” it states.
They also tweaked where people can park alongside streets.
The law now reads it is illegal to “stop, stand, or park a vehicle … On any front or side yard unless hard packed gravel, asphalt or cement driveways and parking spaces are provided, not including the boulevard or right of way.”
In that case, the city was running into problems where people were purposefully taking out grass and putting in gravel or pavers so they could park in the boulevards and rights-of-way.
They also made it illegal to park a camper on a city street.
“No person shall stand or park any truck, truck-tractor, camper, trailer, semi-trailer or boat on any street right of way for any purpose or period of time other than for the expeditious loading or unloading of such vehicles,” the new law states.
It also makes it illegal to camp on the street.
The previous language of the law had some vagueness and people were taking it to mean they could park a camper on the street and camp there, as long as they remained in it, such as overnight.
Council, on first reading, approved the changes in the law. They’ll do a second reading at their next meeting.
In other news:
• Council abandoned an alley that bisected the property owned by the Fellowship Church. By abandoning the alley, it would allow the church to expand on its lot.