Is it legal for tractor-trailers to park on the half-block of Southeast 15th Street just south of Cascade Athletic Club? Several seem to make it their home and run the generator or refrigerator, causing noise pollution, not to mention that this a highly congested area with pedestrians, bicyclists, and folks who cut through on 160th to avoid 164th. Can something be done to eliminate truck parking here?
— Curtis A. Paulson, Cascade Highlands
The city of Vancouver is perfectly aware of big rigs parking on Southeast 15th Street, according to Karen Kumpula of Vancouver Parking Services. Yup, it’s legal — as long as they stay on the north side.
“Semi-trucks and trailers may park on city streets in commercial zones,” Kumpula said. Take a look at the excellent city zoning map you can find by going to http://www.cityofvancouver.us, clicking on the “Building, Planning and Environment” tab and finding the Zoning Maps link. You can see that the chunk of land directly north of 15th Street, and east of 160th Avenue, is zoned community commercial while just across both streets, to the west and south, it’s all residential. So trucks parked on the north side are parked very near — but not over — the line between legal and not.
But Kumpula said the city does cite vehicles that are parked dangerously — within five feet of driveways and too close to stop signs and crosswalks. And the city cites trucks that are parked in residential zones. Typically it’s a $30 fine. The city code governing this matter is VMC 9.64.190.
