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HomeMy WebLinkAbout43-26 Amending Chapter 20, Article 11 of the South Bend Municipal Code Regarding the Parking of Large Vehiclesl .l1F,U MIi+ CITY OF SOUTH BEND DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY INVESTMENT July 7, 2026 Filed in Clerk's Office President Canneth Lee South Bend Common Council Jul 7, 2026 3rd Floor-South Bend City Hall Bianca Tirado South Bend, IN 46601 City Clerk, South Bend, IN Re: Ordinance Updates-Vehicle Regulations Dear President Lee: Attached for consideration by the South Bend Common Council("Council") are updates to the existing South Bend Municipal Code including Chapter 20,Article 3-Abandoned Vehicles, Chapter 20,Article 11 -Parking of Trucks Having More than Eleven Thousand Pounds'Gross Vehicle Weight, Section 16-53-Conditions constituting public nuisances, and Section 20-84- Parking on sidewalk, alley or parkway. The proposed ordinances focus on updating South Bend's regulations around vehicles to improve clarity, align with Indiana law, address gaps in parking enforcement, and strengthen the City's ability to protect quality of life. I request that the proposed amendments be included on the full Council agenda for first reading and assignment to the Residential Neighborhoods Standing Committee on July 13, 2026. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Liz Maradik Chief Neighborhoods Officer 215 S. Dr.Martin Luther King,Jr. Blvd., Ste 500,South Bend, Indiana 466oi (574)233-o31i southbendin.gov Filed in Clerk's Office BILL NO. 43-26 Jul 7, 2026 ORDINANCE NO. Bianca l irado City Clerk, South Bend, IN AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,AMENDING CHAPTER 20,ARTICLE 11 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE PARKING OF LARGE VEHICLES STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The Common Council fmds that the parking and storage of large vehicles in residential neighborhoods and other sensitive areas may create traffic safety concerns, obstruct visibility for motorists and pedestrians, interfere with the use and enjoyment of nearby properties, and negatively affect neighborhood character when not appropriately regulated. The Council further finds that clear and coordinated standards are necessary to ensure consistency between the City's traffic regulations and zoning requirements. The purpose of this ordinance is to clarify and strengthen the City's parking regulations by: 1) Clarify the definition of large vehicles subject to regulation under this Article and align that definition with the Zoning Ordinance;(2)Promote public safety by regulating the parking of large vehicles in locations where such vehicles may block sight lines, impair traffic movement, create hazardous conditions,or otherwise jeopardize the safety of persons or property;(3)Establish clear standards governing the parking of large vehicles on streets, rights-of-way, and private property; 4) Ensure consistency with applicable zoning regulations governing vehicle parking and storage; 5) Preserve reasonable operational exceptions for utility providers, deliveries, loading and unloading activities, repair work, and construction activities that require the temporary presence of large vehicles;and(6)Provide effective enforcement mechanisms to encourage compliance and maintain safe, orderly,and attractive neighborhoods throughout the City. It is the intent of the Common Council that these regulations be interpreted to balance legitimate business and operational needs with the City's interest in protecting public safety, preserving neighborhood character, reducing visual and traffic impacts, and ensuring the orderly use of public rights-of-way and private property. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend,as follows: SECTION I. Chapter 20, Article 11 of the South Bend Municipal Code shall be amended as follows: ARTICLE 11. PARKING OF LARGE VEHICLES Page 1 of 3 Sec. 20-117.Definition. When used in this article: Large Vehicle shall be defined as set forth in Section 21-07.03(i)(1) of the South Bend Municipal Code, as amended. For purposes of this Article, this definition is not meant to include trucks or other vehicles which are intended for personal use and/or daily driving. Sec. 20-118. Parking restricted. a) No person shall park a large vehicle, as defined in this Article: 1) On any street or right-of-way adjacent to a zoned area in violation of Section 21.07.03; 2) In a manner which blocks the line of sight; interferes or interrupts the passage of other vehicles; so as to be likely to cause a blockade, accident, breakdown, or injury to persons, animals,or property; or otherwise jeopardizes public safety; or 3) Large vehicles shall be allowed to park on the street or right-of-way in all other districts when being used in connection with servicing a public utility or for the purpose of delivering, loading, unloading, servicing, or being currently involved in repair or construction. Said provisions notwithstanding, large vehicles involved in activities under this subsection shall be parked as safely as reasonably possible. b) All large vehicles may be parked in a carport, private garage, or driveway unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by the City of South Bend Zoning Ordinance. c) All large vehicles, regardless of declared gross vehicle weight, which are used for picking up trash on a commercial basis are strictly prohibited from parking on any residential street except for the purpose of loading. d) No person shall park any large vehicle on a lot or parcel in violation of Section 21.07.03 of the South Bend Municipal Code. Sec. 20-119. Penalties. Any owner of any large vehicle which is found parked in violation of this Article, and/or the owners and occupants of any property who allow such parking in violation of Section 20-118 may be fined fifty dollars($50.00) for the first offense and one hundred dollars ($100.00) for all subsequent offenses. Fines issued under this section shall be payable through the Ordinance Violations Bureau pursuant to Section 2-213 of this Code. SECTION II. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Common Council and approval by the Mayor. Page 2 of 3 Canneth J. Lee, Council President South Bend Common Council Attest: Bianca L. Tirado, City Clerk Office of the City Clerk Presented by me, the undersigned Clerk of the City of South Bend, to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana on the day of 2026, at o'clock .m. Bianca L. Tirado,City Clerk Office of the City Clerk Approved and signed by me on the day of 2026, at o'clock m. James Mueller, Mayor City of South Bend,Indiana Page 3 of 3 Filed in Clerk's Office Jul 7, 2026 Bianca Tirado BILL NO City Clerk, South Bend, IN ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE OF THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA,AMENDING CHAPTER 20, ARTICLE 11 OF THE SOUTH BEND MUNICIPAL CODE REGARDING THE PARKING OF LARGE VEHICLES STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND INTENT The Common Council finds that the parking and storage of large vehicles in residential neighborhoods and other sensitive areas may create traffic safety concerns, obstruct visibility for motorists and pedestrians, interfere with the use and enjoyment of nearby properties, and negatively affect neighborhood character when not appropriately regulated. The Council further finds that clear and coordinated standards are necessary to ensure consistency between the City's traffic regulations and zoning requirements. The purpose of this ordinance is to clarify and strengthen the City's parking regulations by: 1) Clarify the definition of large vehicles subject to regulation under this Article and align that definition with the Zoning Ordinance; (2) Promote public safety by regulating the parking of large vehicles in locations where such vehicles may block sight lines, impair traffic movement, create hazardous conditions,or otherwise jeopardize the safety of persons or property;(3)Establish clear standards governing the parking of large vehicles on streets, rights-of-way, and private property; 4)Ensure consistency with applicable zoning regulations governing vehicle parking and storage; 5) Preserve reasonable operational exceptions for utility providers, deliveries, loading and unloading activities, repair work, and construction activities that require the temporary presence of large vehicles;and(6)Provide effective enforcement mechanisms to encourage compliance and maintain safe,orderly, and attractive neighborhoods throughout the City. It is the intent of the Common Council that these regulations be interpreted to balance legitimate business and operational needs with the City's interest in protecting public safety, preserving neighborhood character, reducing visual and traffic impacts, and ensuring the orderly use of public rights-of-way and private property. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council of the City of South Bend, as follows: SECTION I. Chapter 20, Article 11 of the South Bend Municipal Code shall be amended as follows: ARTICLE 11.PARKING OF LARGE VEHICLESTvUCKS v4VJAI! AIO E TH g AI L J L i/L AI TJ!OUSA A/11 D/)J/AMC/!_'DO VL IC C WL GHT Page 1of3 Sec. 20-117.Definition. When used in this article: Truck Large Vehicle shall be defined as vehicle ,designed e`' ^ wined exeeeds-eleverrthensand-(-1-H4004-penezisset forth in Section 21-07.03(i)(1) of the South Bend Municipal Code, as amended. For purposes of this Article, this definition is not meant to include such trucks or other vehicles which are intended for personal use and/or daily driving. Sec. 20-118. Parking restricted. a) (a) No person shall park a truck large vehicle, as heretofore-defined in this Article: 1) eOn any street street or right-of-way next adjacent to a zoned area in violation of Section 21.07.03; 2) n area zoned "A"or"A 1" Residence Districts, "A 2" or"A 3" Planned Residential- Districts, or"B" or"B I" Residence Districts, In a manner which blocks the line of sight; interferes or interrupts the passage of other vehicles; so as to be likely to cause a blockade, accident, breakdown,or injury to persons, animals, or property; or otherwise jeopardizes public safety r be , the of ed in the o str ctio of_a resi do a or 14L3J_Such Ltruek-s-arge vehicles shall be allowed to park on such the rest ;na street or right-of-ways in all other districts when being used in connection with servicing a public utility or for the purpose of delivering, loading, unloading, servicing, or being. currently involved in repair or construction. Said provisions notwithstanding, large vehicles involved in activities under this subsection shall be parked as safely as reasonably possible. b) All seen-weeks-large vehicles may be parked in a carport,private garage,or driveway unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by the City of South Bend Zoning Ordinance de. c) All ttslarge vehicles, regardless of declared gross vehicle weight, which are used for picking up trash on a commercial basis are strictly prohibited from parking on any residential street except for the purpose of loading. d) No person shall park any large vehicle i n a lot or parcel SF 1 Single C'.,. ily „„.d Two Family Disric SF2 Single C.,. ily and Two Family Distric or 1\,f1;1 in violation of Section 21.07.03 21 02.01, 21 02.02 or 21 02.03 or 21 02.01•of the South Bend Municipal Code. 4-0 Residential District, "A I" Residential District, "B" Residential District, "C" Commercial District, or "D" Light Industrial District in violation of Section 21.07.03 21 04.0 I of the South Bend Municipal Coda Page 2 of 3 Sec. 20-119. Penalties. Any owner of any large vehicle or other vehicle which is found illegally parked on residential street or lotparked in violation of this Article,and/or the owners and occupants of any rep al property who allow such parking in violation of Section 20-118 shall may be fined fifty dollars($50.00) for the first offense and one hundred dollars ($100.00) for all subsequent offenses. Fines issued under this section shall be payable through the Ordinance Violations Bureau pursuant to Section 2-213 of this Code. SECTION II. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Common Council and approval by the Mayor. Canneth Lee, President, Common Council Attest: Bianca Tirado, City Clerk Presented by me to the Mayor of the City of South Bend, Indiana, on the day of 2026, at o'clock_. m. Bianca Tirado, City Clerk Approved and signed by me on the day of 2026, at o'clock . m. James Mueller, Mayor,City of South Bend, Indiana Page 3 of 3