OXFORD, Ga. - Oxford Police Chief Dave Harvey and City Manager Matthew Pepper are looking to create a new ordinance to address how many vehicles can park in a residential driveway, as stated during the Monday, Aug. 19 work session. 

Judy Greer, Oxford resident, expressed concerns during the work session about the overabundance of cars in residential driveways. She has noticed up to five or six cars parked in a residential driveway at one time, almost like they are "running some kind of business, like a mechanics."

"It takes away from the aesthetics and the beauty of the city to see, all the time, too many cars," she said.

Harvey assured Greer that the city has been looking into various city ordinances - ones that specifically address the number of vehicles parked in a residential driveway - and are "working on creating an ordinance to address that."

"It is getting to be a problem, and it's increasing throughout different subdivisions," he said. "It's picking up everywhere."

Harvey also mentioned concerns from residents, who were not in attendance at the work session, in regard to parking vehicles more than 10,000 pounds in residential neighborhoods after work, citing City Ordinance Art. II, Div. 1, Sec. 34-26:

It shall be unlawful to operate for through traffic purposes any truck, wagon or other commercial vehicle that exceeds 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight on any street or highway within the city other than a state highway. The prohibition of this section shall not apply to vehicles in excess of 10,000 GVW in route to or from a specific location within the city for purposes of pickup or delivery. 

Harvey stated the residents have been parking their vehicles, that are more than 10,000 pounds, in a residential neighborhood for years; however, he found a violation in doing so with his interpretation of the city ordinance.

Councilman George Holt stated that the statement - 'for purposes for pickup or delivery' - could be interpreted in different ways.

"If I'm going home, I'm making a delivery," he said. "I'm delivering myself."

Mayor Jerry Roseberry said the council needed to "build a little leeway" in the ordinance to "tighten it up a little bit."