Cayce changes yard parking rule after outcry. It’s different for renters and owners
Cayce has scaled back a proposed ordinance that would ban residents from parking in their front yard.
A revised parking rule approved by Cayce City Council on Tuesday would apply to non-owner-occupied rental property inside the city limits. It would also specifically allow for parking in a yard immediately off the street, without requiring a property owner to make any additions or improvements to create a designated parking space.
Cayce City Council approved the changes in a 4-1 vote this week, after a previous version of the parking rule met with opposition from some residents who wanted the ability to park in the yard of a home if they need to.
Homeowner Karen Fitch said she felt “relieved” by the changes after her Change.org petition against the proposed parking rule received 465 signatures. But Fitch, who also owns rental property in the city, is concerned she could be penalized if renters park in the yard of her rental home — which could include losing her ability to rent.
“That’s money I count on to keep my property,” she said.
Under the new plan, property owners would be responsible for providing adequate parking for up to four unrelated tenants in a rental property, and for making sure tenants know where they can and can’t park. The new rules would also apply to unoccupied homes and other non-owner-occupied lots — but homeowners, their families and guests would be able to park were they like at their own homes.
All drivers in Cayce will be permitted to park within the public right-of-way on the grass, as long as the car is parallel to the road and not within the “buildable area” of a lot.
If approved, the city will give itself six months to educate the public before the new rules go into effect.
Cayce officials said they proposed the ban on parking in the front yard because of complaints from residents that it was unsightly.
“For most of us, our home is the biggest investment we will ever make,” said Mayor Elise Partin. “As a council, we’ve been asked by residents and neighborhood leaders to help protect that investment.”
But city staff also looked “at solutions that would not be overly burdensome or expensive for homeowners, not being labor intensive on our staff to enforce and encourage green options to help prevent further storm drainage issues,” Partin said.
But Fitch said neighborhoods’ appearances won’t be changed much if owners can continue to park in their yard next to rental homes where it won’t be allowed.
“If you want to make the neighborhood look better, this seems like it may not get you the end result,” she said.
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