By Anne Thom

The urbanization of Stacy has been both a boon to residents with new construction, development and infrastructure and a bane with rising populations, property taxes and increased restrictions. The Stacy Council meeting of Nov. 14 was about all of those issues.

During the public comment period, Bill Brun appeared on behalf of his daughter who resides at 5765 Stacy Trail. The resident had received a letter from city inspector Jack Kramer regarding what Brun described as "an improvement," crushed rock put down in front of the property to serve as a parking space. Kramer's letter stated this was in violation of city ordinance.

Mayor Michael Carlson told Brun that if he was looking for an exception, he would have to go through the planning commission. Carlson explained that the city was in the process of trying to designate "no parking" areas along Stacy Trail within the general business district.

The issue with the property along Stacy Trail is that it is located in the general business district and therefore different regulations will apply. It is not zoned residential. City Engineer Chuck Schwartz reiterated this. City Clerk Sharon Payne pointed out that the property would probably not be eligible for a variance. Stacy Trail is a county road; therefore changes would have to be sought through the county board. Brun asked for a moment then to explain the situation.

The property in question is a twin home with a single car garage in the city's general business district on Stacy Trail. Brun's daughters live there and one has parked on the street until she did receive a ticket for doing so. City ordinance prohibits parking on city streets between the hours of 2 a.m. and 6 a.m., which is common in many cities. The other resident has had trouble trying to back out onto Stacy Trail in the increased morning traffic as the city has grown.

Brun's remedy was to spread Class 5 gravel over an area along the boulevard turning it into a makeshift parking lot.

Carlson pointed out that Brun had built the parking area right near a catch basin and the concern was that the gravel he spread was now washing into the storm sewer with the potential to clog the drain.

Councilmember Barbara Otterson told Brun she had observed the residents digging the car out after the city had plowed and depositing the snow back onto the street, which was a problem for her. Brun said if the car was not parked on the patch of gravel it would have to be parked on the lawn. Making the present driveway wider is not possible as it is already on the edge of the property and there is a manhole cover located in any area that could potential be used for expansion of the parking surface.

Councilman Mel Aslakson expressed concern that if the residents went to parking on the lawn, other residents whose driveways and parking spaces are also limited would want to do the same thing.

Brun said he had constructed the parking area because he felt it was a safety issue for a child living in the household who gets in and out of the car to get back and forth from school. He said he wanted his grandchild to be able to get in and out of the car safely.

Councilman John Daher said, "I agree with Mr. Aslakson, we can't allow this along County Road 19."

Daher also said he has had issues with the 2-6 a.m. parking ban but didn't elaborate. Aslakson then suggested perhaps the residents could park on the street to the south though it would be inconvenient to walk back and forth. Brun also said he had driven around Stacy and had observed what he thought was a similar parking set up in the Sunrise Prairie Townhomes development. Daher said the design there had been approved in a development agreement and Otterson added that the developer had followed city ordinances.

Brun asked the council for advice. Schwartz said maybe widening the driveway onto the lawn or having another section of driveway that veered off to one side might be an alternative. Carlson advised Brun to contact Kramer and ask for his help in researching some options. As Brun departed it was mention that a new retail development had also sparked some calls to city hall about whether there was enough parking included at that location. Streets and parking are issues the council continues to grapple with both for existing properties and for development. The city's ordinance committee may re-examine rules and restrictions at future meetings.