Following a recent public hearing, the Duluth City Council voted to make amendments to the Duluth Unified Development Code relating to improved Community Standards. The proposed amendments relate to parking and loading requirements, sign regulations, and erosion control and stormwater management.
Changes related to parking creates standard size for oversized vehicle parking spaces, regulates number of vehicles per parking space, and regulates extended and over-night parking and storage of oversized vehicles in non-residential areas.
Tractor-trailer parking has been a concern within the city for a few years. Since truck drivers are limited to the number of hours they are allowed to drive without taking a break, drivers have been using large commercial parking lots to park overnight. These general customer parking lots were not designed to accommodate use by tractor-trailers, creating maintenance issues like broken asphalt and concrete, broken curbs, and damaged landscape islands. Another concern is overnight parking. Some establishments allow vehicles to park outside the designated parking spaces. The new parking amendments will require tractor-trailers and other large vehicles to park in appropriate areas designed for such parking.
Changes regarding signage will reduce the allowable size of window signs from 50 percent of windows and doors to 20 percent. Existing businesses will have a 6-month grace period before changes need to be made and exceptions can be made at administrative discretion.
Additional information: www.duluthga.net.