The issue of parking large vehicles at people’s homes and in other locations was addressed by the Locust Grove City Council via several agenda items at its first meeting of 2023.

The council voted January 2 to approved an ordinance amending the city code to expand the definition of a commercial vehicle and provide for parking and storage of those vehicles.

Under the amended definition, a commercial vehicle is a vehicle that requires a commercial driver’s license or other specialist license to legally operate. School buses are no longer excluded from this category.

Parking, storing or maintaining a commercial vehicle will now be prohibited in all residential zoning districts, except RA-zoned properties of more than five acres in size and properties with religious facilities where the vehicle in question is owned by the religious facility.

Adjustments were made to the ordinance regarding major recreational equipment, with buffer and concealment guidelines when stored in a yard, a carport or an enclosed building.

A proposed ordinance amendment was approved allowing gravel parking surfaces for tractor-trailer truck and oversized vehicle parking lots over five acres in M-1 (light manufacturing) and M-2 (general industrial) zoning districts with an approved conditional use. A separate ordinance amendment was approved adding those types of parking lots as permitted conditional uses in those zoning districts.

In other business, a resolution approving the architectural plans submitted for proposed CarMax buildings on Price Drive was approved, as well as architectural plans submitted for proposed warehouse buildings on Hwy. 42.

In separate resolutions, three citizens were reappointed to their respective boards: Betty Shearouse to the Historic Preservation Commission; and Sherry Moon and Stephanie Epps to the Downtown Development Authority.