Ste. Genevieve Aldermen Pass First Reading Of Proposal To Limit Vehicles

After the topic had been discussed for about 10 minutes during the public comments section of the meeting, the Ste. Genevieve Board of Aldermen voted 5-2 to approve the first reading of a bill that would limit the number of visible vehicles on a residential property.

The bill will get a second reading at the Thursday, July 11, meeting, unless it is tabled again.

The proposal generated additional discussion among the aldermen during the meeting when it came up on the agenda.

The bill would allow no more than five vehicles — including motorcycles and boats — to be parked visibly in yards, unless on a paved or graveled surface. No more than 40 percent of a lot may be used for building or parking.

“I’ve driven around most of the neighborhoods and counted vehicles,” Ward 4 Alderman Joe Prince said. “We’ve never heard a single thing or complaint — even in my neighborhood — on anyone that had more than five licensed vehicles, boats, whatever. They’re not presenting problems, even though they have more than what this ordinance is going to allow.

“If they’re not presenting a problem,” Prince continued, “why are we trying to fix a problem that’s not there because of one problem we are having problems with and are getting complaints on?”

“Because the [existing] ordinance doesn’t allow you to take care of this problem,” Ward 3 Alderman Jimmie Jones replied. Jones, formerly the city’s building inspector, added, “I’ve been fighting this 15 years, Joe. If we could have solved it, we would have solved it a long time ago.”

See complete story in the July 3 edition of the Herald.