Truck Parking Ban Ahead

       It will soon be harder for business owners to park their commercial vehicles overnight on the streets and in the driveways of residential neighborhoods.

       On Tuesday, the East Hampton Town Board agreed to adopt a resolution banning the parking of big work trucks and other heavy equipment from residential streets between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m.

       The decision came in response to months of appeals from residents of Springs, who had complained that large trucks and other construction and landscaping equipment parked on neighborhood streets were causing a safety hazard and devaluing their property.

       Board members concurred that tougher restrictions were required for big trucks, excluding pickups and vans, but had some misgivings. Councilwoman Theresa Quigley, who later in the meeting unveiled a study showing that two-thirds of the businesses in town are located in a nonbusiness zoning district, said she did not want to make things more difficult for business owners. But she said the board could not ignore a situation where contractors’ trucks block narrow residential streets.

       Councilman Dominick Stanzione expressed concern that if a homeowner were having a project done and a contractor found it necessary to leave a truck at the site overnight, it might be unfairly ticketed. After some discussion with John Jilnicki, the town attorney, the board agreed that residents who faced such a situation could call police and explain their predicament.

       Mr. Stanzione also wondered where business owners who do not own or lease commercial property elsewhere and have no space for their trucks on their own property would park them.