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PZC Action: �•- At its meeting of November 13, 2008, the Planning & Zoning Commission (PZC) voted 4-1 to recommend that the BCC adopt the proposed amendments to eliminate restrictions on vehicles with racks and to clarify restrictions on vehicles with booms. In response to the PZC's recommendations . staff has modified the proposed ordinance to clearly allow for standard-size pick-up trucks and vans with racks and to allow vehicles with fold-up booms that are not"visible"when the vehicle is parked. The BCC is now to consider the proposed ordinance and is to adopt, adopt with changes,or reject the proposed ordinance. ANALYSIS The intent of the county's regulations is to promote aesthetics and limit nuisances within residential areas by restricting commercial vehicles to sizes and types customarily used for personal transportation and commonly found in residential areas. The county last updated its commercial vehicle regulations in 1996. That change increased the threshold for commercial vehicles allowed in residential areas from 3/4 ton rated capacity(carrying capacity)to 1 ton rated capacity,and was based on a determination that personal vehicle sizes had increased. Therefore, under current regulations, one commercial vehicle with a rated capacity of 1 ton or less is allowed per residence. Recently, staff researched specifications for numerous new truck and van models as well as the commercial vehicle regulations of 18 local governments. That research indicates that some popular models of newer pick-up trucks exceed the county's current 1 ton rated capacity threshold. That research also indicates,however,that trucks with increased rated capacity are no different in size and appearance from models that have a different carrying capacity options"package". Thus,the county's current regulations rely on a threshold that does not directly relate to observable differences in vehicle size or shape. Throughout the state, many local governments use size and weight thresholds, rather than rated capacity,as a component of their commercial vehicle regulations. Such size and weight criteria appear to be more directly related to commercial vehicle impacts rather than carrying capacity. As a result of these fundings,staff's draft amendment changes the commercial vehicle threshold from"rated capacity" to a threshold based on vehicle length, height,and gross vehicle weight. The proposed threshold will not classify a fully loaded,large late model pick-up truck with a gross vehicle weight of 15,000 pounds or less as a commercial vehicle. The Public Works Director has verified that such vehicles should not adversely impact local roads and driveways in residential areas. Based upon the sizes and weights of larger new truck models(see attachment#3),staff has drafted LDR changes that will allow the largest pick-up truck models,as well as common cargo vans,to be parked in residential areas without respect to carrying capacity. The proposed ordinance also specifically allows such pick up trucks and vans to have a rack. In addition, the draft changes codify existing county policy that prohibits bucket trucks,dump trucks,semi-tractors,and similar commercial vehicles from being kept in residential areas. The proposed changes will modify the Chapter 901 definition of"Commercial vehicle"by adding size and weight criteria and by specifically defining certain types of vehicles as commercial vehicles(dump trucks, bucket trucks, semi-tractors). In addition, the proposed changes will amend two identical sections of the LDRs, sections 911.15(3) and 912.17. These changes will update regulations in accordance with the definition changes,continue to prohibit commercial vehicles such as dump trucks and large sized vehicles in residential areas,and continue to allow vans and pick-up trucks with racks in residential areas. FACommunity Development\Users\CurDev\BCC\2008 BCC\Conj ftA6A J&Rf icles.1 2 208