The Peoria City Council is considering new truck parking ordinances.
There is currently no place to legally park a semi or large delivery vehicle in Peoria. Truckers can park while they wait to make a delivery, but they can’t park for a night at home or while they grab a bite to eat.
The city council heard about a proposed ordinance change that would allow vehicles, including RVs and trailers 23 feet or longer, to be parked in the industrial parts of the city. Special use permits would allow for parking in commercial districts, such as area malls.
Councilman Chuck Grayeb says he gets lots of complaints about semis being parked where they don’t belong, namely in neighborhoods, and says they need to balance the needs of truck drivers and residents.
While an over-the-road trucker home on a break still won’t be able to park in front of their house, councilmembers say they should be able to at least find someplace other than the side of the interstate.
This ordinance change is in the early stages, so for now, truckers need to keep on trucking right out of town.
Thoroughfare Plan
The council also approved a new Thoroughfare Plan. It’s designed to be a starting point when discussing how area roads are used and whether they need to be adjusted for traffic volume.
Earlier plans focused on moving cars as quickly as possible with little thought given to non-motorized traffic, street maintenance or stormwater runoff.
As the city works toward the goals established in its Comprehensive Plan, this Thoroughfare Map will help guide decisions.
When information about this map started circulating, so did rumors about changing roads. Councilmembers say they heard from a lot of concerned residents but want to reiterate that this map is not a greenlight for any changes, it’s simply a place to start planning for the city’s future.