SOUTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP — Township residents who make a living driving tractor trailers could soon have designated areas to park the rigs overnight.
The issue was brought to South Whitehall in September when a township trucker said he was blindsided by officials when he parked his tractor overnight on Office Center Road. Commissioner Glenn Block reacted by trying to push for a site-specific ban to prevent the trucks from parking on that road, saying it constituted a danger because of a nearby day care center.
But the rest of the commissioners wanted a more comprehensive plan — and one that came with a solution. Planner Gregg Adams presented an oversized vehicle on-street parking ordinance amendment during Wednesday’s meeting for commissioner consideration.
The rules would keep trucks from parking overnight along residential and commercially zoned township roads, but would provide spaces in some of the township’s industrial zone on a permit basis.
Rigs could park after 7 p.m. on the east side of Lower Hausman Road, starting 1,400 feet north of Tilghman Street and ending where the road tapers near the Little Cedar Creek crossing; and two areas on the north side of Crackersport Road near 3741 and 4921 Crackersport Road.
It was important not to just push truckers around the township by simply banning street parking and offering no solutions, South Whitehall officials said.
“We’re all cognizant of the fact that this is a trucking area now,” Adams said. “We wanted to provide our residents a place to park safely.”
Adams said the township took a look at the model used in Bethlehem Township to get a sense of how to tackle the issue. Truckers violating the ordinance will be issued warnings before any fines or penalties kick in, he said.
Residents will be the only ones allowed to get a permit, the pricing for which has yet to be determined, Adams said. Idling won’t be permitted, he said. The point of the ordinance change is to provide a place for residents to park their rigs so they can go home to their own beds to sleep.
Commissioners Chairwoman Christina Tori Morgan praised the township officials for crafting the amendments.
“They put lots of thought and energy into this topic,” she said.
Community Development Manager Gerald Harbison said he thinks there will be a handful of residents who will seek permits. He estimated that he’s seen roughly a half dozen tractors parked around the township overnight.
The board agreed to advertise for the ordinance changes in the hopes of adopting the new rules by the fall.
Twitter @Sarah_M_Wojcik
610-778-2283
