Trailer Talk Tabled Indefinitely

After weeks of discussion among citizens, the Planning and Zoning Commission and the St. Peters Board of Aldermen, the trailer issue was finally resolved Thursday night—for now.

The Board voted to table the two ordinances that would have changed city code regarding trailer usage by residnts. The Board tabled the items, effectively killing the issue for the time being. The Board could take the items off the table at a later date, but Mayor Len Pagano made it sound like the issue, at least in its current language is dead.

“This really needs to be evaluated and said correctly,” Pagano said.

The issue at hand was driveway parking of trailers. City code allows trailers to be stored at a home, as long as it is kept behind the housing line and on concrete. Recently the city modified code to allow trailers being used in conjunction with an active project to remain in driveways for 45 days.

Police found the change difficult to enforce. The police wanted to lower the 45-day limit to just 10 days a year. Ten days, however, was seen by many, including the , as too short to complete a project.

The Board of Aldermen came up with a meeting. Since most significant projects—deck replacements, home additions, etc.—require a permit, the code could change to reflect that. With a permit, residents could keep a trailer in the front of the property for 45 days. Without a permit, the 10-day rule would be enacted.

Thursday the Board heard more public objection to the code change. Residents who use trailers wanted to the city to let them use them as much as they wanted.

Following the public comments, Alderman Jerry Hollingsworth, Ward 2, moved to table the ordinances indefinitely. The Board unanimously agreed with the motion and Bill No.  11-115 and Bill No. 11-116 were tabled. The current code stays on the books until an alderman either removes the item from the table or the city presents the changes in a different way.