Washington Area Assoc. Banning SUVs Including AV

[hbrenner]

Washington Post Article

I haven't read the entire thing but some community in Fairfax has either proposed a ban on like 12 SUV's and large cars or has banned them. Apparently the developers are squeezing more and more homes and forgoing street space, which cuts street parking down or out all together. The article specifically names some GM SUV products including the avalanche.

Howard

 

[ygmn]

That sounds crappy who would want to live where there is not enough room to park.....

 

[ChevyThunder]

Bummer....

I say we get together about 40 AV's and over run the place!!!

I'll just cross Washington off of my "Places to live" list.



CT

 

[lewdog123]

That's a bummer man. I was thinking about moving up to the Seattle area or Portland area. Hope people don't catch on to this new "fad"

 

[FSUGUY]

That's a bummer man. I was thinking about moving up to the Seattle area or Portland area. Hope people don't catch on to this new "fad"

I think this is Washington DC (Fairfax, VA).

 

[wlcohen]

Thats what you get for living in a development run by a community/home owners association

 

[TXAVy]

If you read the entire article it sounds like the resriction on vehicles are those over a specific length or width and vehicles mentioned are only examples. A guy at the end for instance swapped the bumper on his Silverado to get under the length restriction.

It still sucks though and I have to say I'm happy to be living in Texas right now where the parking spots are as big as I've ever seen.

 

[tractman]

Do you guys feel like Big Brother has a grip around our necks??
Tractman

 

[RichUF]

I'm kind of on the fence with this issue. The gated ...different issue) neighborhood that I live in, complete with dictator-style HOA (not THAT bad really...they didn't say a thing about my TV antenna, but then again they can't, right Hbrenner? ) seems to allow parking anywhere and it is totally annoying. I'm not necessarily saying that people should be required to park in their garages, but shouldn't they at least be required to park in the driveway? I have to constantly dodge cars on the street to get to my house b/c of people that are packrats that have so much crap in their garages that they have to park on the street (why not the driveway, like I do, I do not know).

I see in the article that the driveways are short. I understand development (hey, I'm in construction) and wanting to cram as many houses in as possible is a function of money. However, people will see the area and decide whether they like it, and all of the rules, or not. If it's not what people want, they wouldn't sell. Face it, not everyone likes living in the country with plenty of property that you can do with whatever you like. There is a gray area between property rights and rules of an area. My attitude is if you don't like it, don't live there.

 

[steelheadchaser]

It's not Big Brother doing this, but a Home Owners Association. I couldn't bring myself to live anywhere that insists some commitee approve my landscaping, house color, etc. Some of these even prohibit licensed street motorcycles. I know what Jackalanche would think about that last restiction.

 

[golfdude18]

I have to constantly dodge cars on the street to get to my house b/c of people that are packrats that have so much crap in their garages that they have to park on the street (why not the driveway, like I do, I do not know).

I have the exact same problem. My neighbor across the street has turned his tiny garage in to a gameroom for him and his buddies to party in every weekend.

I have drive past my house, turn around in the cul-de-sac to be able to pull into my driveway.

 

[hbrenner]

There you go Rich, confusing boards again ?. ?I agree with you btw, however in this area where space is somewhat limited and quite expensive, having an association tell me what I cannot drive vs. where I cannot park is just a bit on the border defeating the purpose of a free and capatalistic society I think. ?I would bet a law suit erupts over this and it grows in coverage to a national stage, like outdoor smoking bans in recent years...(not commenting at all on those, please use as an example).

Howard

PS it is different than caution labels on music, there it is if you do not want to listen don't buy it.

 

[teking]

I have the exact same problem. ?My neighbor across the street has turned his tiny garage in to a gameroom for him and his buddies to party in every weekend. ?

I have drive past my house, turn around in the cul-de-sac to be able to pull into my driveway.

You guys need to live like I do ... in the sticks!!! Only thing I have to worry about dodging are Deer and Gators!! To park a 27 footer all I have to do is make a sweep through the pasture. No backing up trailer for me ;-)

 

[CraigF]

This is interesting. We are going to sell our house in about 12 months, and I will be very careful about selecting the subdivision based on the rule book.

We currently live in St. Louis City, where you park on the street, or in your detached garage--which is accessed via the alley. Our garage is so old and small, nothing can really fit back there besides somethng like an S-10 (short bed, that is).

While I do look forward to having a newer house with an attached 2 or 3 car garage, I still want the option of parking on the street. For some of you to get upset that someone is parked on the street is irrational, unless there are signs stating that no parking is allowed.

Craig

 

[wonder91178]

I don't mind that people park on the street, my problem is, my across-the-street neighbors insist on parking their Saturn DIRECTLY across the street from my driveway, which makes it almost impossible to swing out and pull up in the driveway.

I've had to come up with creative parking a time or 2 because of this, my across-the-street neighbors have 5 cars, 4 in the driveway, one in the street, none in the 2 car garage...



Kim

 

[King]

Typical left wing liberal attitude -- make a law (rule) because some bleeding heart tree-hugging (driving a Yugo) squeeking wheel is telling us how to live.

Since I'm "politically correct", I won't tell you how I really feel.

 

[EarthQuake]

?For some of you to get upset that someone is parked on the street is irrational, unless there are signs stating that no parking is allowed. ?

I respectfully disagree. ?I see it the other way around. ?Streets are for driving. ?If you don't want to park in your garage or in your driveway then park in your yard (although that's normally a HOA no-no). ?Not all streets are wide enough to handle people parking on both sides of the street and still allow 2 cars to drive down without having to pull over. ?Plus, it's more of a place for a child or pet to hide before darting out into (unbenonst to them) oncoming traffic. ?Plus you're just asking to get clipped by another car and then who's to blame (really I honestly don't know)?
Sorry for the rant, I just hate to see cars parked like that in MY neighborhood. ?However if you do it 'once in a blue moon', that's a different story.

 

[wonder91178]

Not all streets are wide enough to handle people parking on both sides of the street and still allow 2 cars to drive down without trying to pull over.

My street doesn't have the room, with people on either side, with opposing traffic, one has to pull over and let the other pass first.

Besides, put my AV in the STREET? Nooooo....

Kim

 

[txyank1]

......... my problem is, my across-the-street neighbors insist on parking their Saturn DIRECTLY across the street from my driveway, which makes it almost impossible to swing out and pull up in the driveway. Kim

That's my situation exactly. I often have to drive around the block when I leave 'cause there's only enough room to swing one way when I back out. If it's not the ones that live there it's thier visitors parked right smack across from the end of my driveway! And we also have streets in the developement next to us where they park on both sides, only leaving it wide enough for one-way traffic. Shoiuld only allow parking on one side.

 

[sonfour]

The fourth paragraph of the article says it all, "developers intent on squeezing in the maximum number of houses have received local approval to build roads narrower than the state standard." Leave it to the "developers" to maximize their profit over space for homes and people.

 

[kcksbadboy]

Watch the fire department take their street width requirement apart.

The FD runs politics and they won't let them design streets to be to narrow to get a full size pumper or rescue down them. We had a development here that had some of that issue. They finally ended up taking out their wrought iron fence, widening up the roads because the FD screwed with the developments insurance rating by saying that they could not access it beacuse of the road and fence design restrictions.

If it is the the size of a fire truck, then it is big enough for me to drive.

 

[gojira-san]

Some of these even prohibit licensed street motorcycles. I know what Jackalanche would think about that last restiction.

Yeah we have one of those in town - I went to a party there on my BMW. They said I had to leave it at the gate. Nope. I left, came back with my old pickup truck, was let in then proceeded to park on the lawn around the corner from the party.

 

[Durwin]

Thanks for posting the article. I am Sooooo glad that I moved away from Northern Virginia and moved to Sacramento. Vehicle registration in California is dirt cheap compared to Va. No safety inspections either. Drive it until it falls apart.
Durwin

 

[sparky]

Watch the fire department take their street width requirement apart.

The FD runs politics and they won't let them design streets to be to narrow to get a full size pumper or rescue down them. We had a development here that had some of that issue. They finally ended up taking out their wrought iron fence, widening up the roads because the FD screwed with the developments insurance rating by saying that they could not access it beacuse of the road and fence design restrictions.

If it is the the size of a fire truck, then it is big enough for me to drive.

Good point. A fire and someone gets hurt, or heaven forbids dies, and the fire department is hampered, watch the screaming and law suits.

Parking on the street is one thing, parking on the street in front of my house is another altogether. I want that space for my own rare use, vistiors or repair people, or whatever.

 

[golfdude18]

We built our house in June of 2000. I do not see us living there more than a couple of more years.

Hopefully, in 2005 we can find a nice secluded Ranch in the country with enough property that it takes more than 20 minutes to mow the yard.