5/14/1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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BOOK 98, PAGE 2 , advertised public hearings before the Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of County Commissioners. Because the LDR amendment is applicable county -wide, advertisement of the hearings occurred in the local newspaper, and did not consist of mail -outs to individual homeowners. At the LDR amendment hearings, staff supported the amendment allowing emergency service tow trucks in residential areas, limited to one per premises and parked off-street in a garage, carport or driveway. The allowance is in the public interest from the standpoint of reducing response time to emergency situations. The Sheriff's Department has indicated that county -wide (including municipalities), there are approximately 15 towing services on the Sheriff's emergency rotation list. Concerning Mr. Sigler's particular circumstance, staff has investigated and found that the vehicle in question is a hydraulic wrecker parked at a residence down the street on which Mr. Sigler resides. John and Deborah Seeley, owners of the residence with -the tow truck, have indicated that the vehicle is stored in' a designated driveway on their property approximately 90 feet from the road. The Seeleys also indicated that, as a courtesy, they contacted the adjacent property owners prior to parking the tow truck at their residence, and those neighbors expressed no objection. It should be noted that, in 1992, the County Code Enforcement Board heard a case involving the Seeleys' parking of a tow truck at their previous residence. At that time, the Code Board heard testimony that the Seeleys were on the Sheriff Department's emergency rotation list, and ruled that parking one tow truck at the residence was permissible under the circumstances. In this sense, the County Commission's recent adoption of the LDR amendment serves to clarify an interpretation of the Code made by the Code Enforcement Board a number of years ago. Staff's finding is that the tow truck in question complies with the County Code amendment that allows emergency service tow truck parking in residential areas, and that the general County Code allowance, as specified, is in the public interest. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners find that the current County Code allowance of emergency service tow trucks in residential areas (with limitations as specified in the Code) is sufficient and does not warrant change. George sigler, 155 31st Avenue S.W., explained his understanding of the tow truck regulations and described what it was like having a tow truck in his residential neighborhood. He didn't question the need for tow trucks, but it appeared to him that his neighbors, the Seeleys, were operating their Tropic Towing business out of their residence in spite of having a business location off Old Dixie Highway. He complained of noise from the truck's back up horns and the smell of diesel fuel and claimed the private road to the neighborhood, maintained by the 12 homeowners in the neighborhood, was being negatively impacted by the weight of 16 May 14, 1996