Let's Talk About Parking in Woodgate
Hello, Woodgate Neighbors! You may remember back in September we, as the Board along with the Architectural Committee, were doing our due diligence on a residents' proposed safety measure. The proposal goal was to have Woodgate neighbors sign a petition to compel the City of Carrollton to evaluate corners and erect no parking signs near stop signs, water hydrants, and mailboxes.
Our inquiries found that no petition was needed; the City was more than willing to evaluate our corners. If signs were needed and installed, it does not increase the enforcement or patrol frequency of the police. Thus, we needed to save our collective voice as a neighborhood for a matter where we truly needed the City to take action.
As part of those discussions with neighbors and Board members alike, it was noted than an information article on parking rules and tips would be a good idea. These rules are intended to promote safety, maintain visibility at intersections, and ensure access for emergency vehicles and mail delivery.
Based on information previously provided to the WNA by the City of Carrollton Engineering Department, residents should be aware of the following:
Vehicles may not be parked within 30 feet of a stop sign on the approach to the intersection.
Vehicles may not be parked within 15 feet of a fire hydrant.
Vehicles may not be parked within 7 feet of a U.S. mailbox between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except on national holidays.
Intersections must maintain adequate visibility for drivers. Carrollton's visibility standards require an unobstructed sight distance based on street speed. On a typical 30 mph residential street, this equates to approximately 300 feet of sight distance. Parked vehicles, landscaping, or other obstructions can reduce visibility and create safety concerns.
Vehicles parked on public streets should be operable, properly registered, and in compliance with applicable City regulations.
Certain commercial vehicles, heavy trucks, trailers, boats, and recreational vehicles may be subject to additional restrictions in residential areas.
While many of these regulations are not new, they are easy to overlook. A good rule of thumb is to use common sense when parking, especially near intersections, stop signs, fire hydrants, and mailboxes. Maintaining clear sight lines helps improve safety for motorists, pedestrians, cyclists, emergency responders, and school-aged children throughout our neighborhood.
There is a second part of parking we will label as neighborly parking tips:
When possible, park your vehicles in the garage or driveway.
When parking on the street, be aware of bottle necks. Try not to park directly across from another vehicle
Park as close to the curb as possible. Thus, allowing a wider lane for traffic.
Note: except for the city/state laws mentioned earlier, it's not illegal to park in front of your house.
Realize some neighbor's homes require steps from the garage to their home, which they may be unable to navigate at times. Thus, the necessity of parking in front.
Thank you for helping keep Woodgate a safe, attractive, and welcoming neighborhood for all residents.
Stay classy, Woodgate!
Rick Wood
WNA President
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