Ordinance 1084 Creates More Parking Restrictions


(posted June 3)

Despite Finnis Jent's objections, the Speedway Town Council passed Ordinance 1084 at its May 29th meeting, prohibiting cars from parking on lawns. The ordinance is designed to protect the town's visual appeal. Jent thought the ordinance was unfair because he would no longer be able to sell his car in his yard. He disliked the idea of trading his car in when he bought a new car, believing he would lose money on the trade-in-value. He noted he does not have ruts in his yard from parking his car on the lawn.

The parking restriction exceptions are the Indianapolis Motor Speedway's racing events, washing the car and loading or unloading. The ordinance did not specify the time allotment that a car could remain on the lawn for washing, loading or unloading.

Prior to Ordinance 1084, it has always been a violation of the municipal code to sell a car in a residential area or in retail parking lots, even with store owner's permission. Code Enforcement Officer Jereme Howery said there must have been an apparent misunderstanding to the question for the council to say it was OK to sell cars in the driveway. It is a violation of civil zoning ordinance 730-505 to sell cars in a residential area even if the car is parked in the driveway or on a public street.

Jerry Urick and Donna Brackney support the council's May 14 action that banned parking on the north side of 22nd Street during race weekends. However, David Oeth voiced concerned about the procedures because the council suspended the rules to have first and second reading of the ordinance, including passage, within the same meeting. The normal procedure would have had second reading and call for the vote at the May 29th meeting.

He argued that it did not give the public a chance to endorse or remonstrate the ordinance. He asked the for the ordinance to be repealed. He also explained there was an overkill of signs posted. He counted 17 signs from Auburn to the east end of 22nd Street.
Town Councilman Jeff Hartman asked the town attorney if it was legal to park cars on a public street and charge money. He said the situation occurred in front of his building on the southwest corner of Main Street during the race weekend where an individual was parking cars and charging a parking fee.

Town Attorney Jim Gutting responded that it was illegal for residents to charge people to park on a public street.

Jeff S. Hartman, John P. Mathews and Corey A. Ray are listed on the tax card as owners of 1330, 1346 and 1348 Main Street. On June 1, these three parcels were listed as a potential acquisition by the Speedway Redevelopment Commission.