Blocking the Sidewalk

Is there some rule/ordinance/whatever about cars hanging over the sidewalk and in some cases a foot or two into the street? I find it very frustrating when I've got my kids in tow and have to walk them out into the road and back onto the sidewalk on the other side of the car. It's on the side of the road that is a fire lane, if that makes a difference.

 

I do believe that the sidewalk area including the area of the driveway that it crosses must remain free of obstructions. That area is not the homeowners but belongs to either VDOT or the county (can't remember which). I believe it's either the same ordinance or similar to the one that says sidewalks must be clear of snow within 12 hours or so of a snowfall (not the exact ordinance but close enough for government work).

 

All ordinances that aren't enforced!

 

Thanks. I guess worse then people having to go in the street instead of the sidewalk is they are in a fire lane and there isn't much room on the roads I see this on. Oh well...

 

If this is occurring in a townhouse area, let the HOA know, as we DO enforce that requirement.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

There is a family on my street that has their basketball hoop blocking the sidewalk. When I'm walking with my stroller, rather than run the stroller over the curb and risk my baby in the street, I walk around it the other way -- going onto their grass.

 

That's a great idea, but...I wouldn't be able to squeeze through the cars in the driveway!

 

Yep, it's in a townhome area! Who can I email and what is the email address?

 

That would be me... mburns@broadlandshoa.com

Maureen Burns
Assistant Property Manager and Resident since 1997

 

Again, is this in a townhouse area or SFH ? FWIW .. what's the street location, not the full address, just the street/cross-streets.


Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

Neil,

It's townhouses. I've emailed Maureen at the above email. Thanks!

 

Just a question- is this not enforced in a single family area, or is it just the way you worded this email that makes it seem like townhouse areas are the only areas where this is enforced. I've seen this on Vestals Gap...

 

Most of the townhouse streets are HOA common areas. The HOA can proper parking in these areas.

SFH sidewalks and driveway aprons are VDOT Rights of Way, and are covered by Virginia statutes. There's not much the HOA can do in these areas in the way of enforcement.

As someone mentioned, if there is a vehicle parked in such a way in a driveway that it blocks the sidewalk portion of the driveway, I would walk around the car on the lawn, not walk in the street.



Neil Z.
Resident since 1999

 

The HOA will enforce basketball pole violations whether it is in a SF or TH. Just notify the HOA of the location.
Snow/Ice on sidewalks can and, contrary to what tyger31 posted, WILL be enforced by the county. I know of a few residents who got letters from the county giving them 24 hours to clear their driveway or they would be fined $250.00.

 

Just a question- is this not enforced in a single family area, or is it just the way you worded this email that makes it seem like townhouse areas are the only areas where this is enforced. I've seen this on Vestals Gap...
[/quote]

Most of the townhouse streets are HOA common areas. The HOA can proper parking in these areas.

SFH sidewalks and driveway aprons are VDOT Rights of Way, and are covered by Virginia statutes. There's not much the HOA can do in these areas in the way of enforcement.


Neil Z.
Resident since 1999
[/quote]


I thought I had previously read or heard that it was an HOA requirement that cars must be parked in driveways and not on streets. Am I remembering this wrong? It seems that this is in a similar vein as the requirement I have seen published several times in the news letter banning the placement of bags of grass clippings and garbage cans in the street for longer than set periods of time.

Numerous cars in the street and cars hanging over the sidewalk seem to be livability and appearance issues as important as the color of a deck or bags of grass in the street and as such should be able to be enforced by the HOA.

-Jim

 

Location: Highview Trail (Southern Walk)
Broken Basketball backboard/pole taking up the entire span of sidewalk for more than 2 months. Pushing a stroller through his grass is getting old. It seems abandoned.

 

Thanks for the clarification Neil. As another poster said however, sometimes it's easier said than done to squeeze between the gaps in the cars pushing a stroller. Sometimes there are no gaps, and there's no option to walk on the lawn (you'd have to walk up their driveway to the garage door to see if there's room to get by ).

 

Vacliff - just an update on the snow/ice issue....yes residents do get fined once in a while, however, my husband sent a letter to Snow about this issue because we were so frustrated trying to walk on these sidewalks without breaking our necks and he replied saying that with the growing county they just don't have the manpower to drive around to spot violation. The letter said they rely on residents to contact them with an address when they see someone has not cleared their sidewalk within the time limit and they will check it out.

 

SFH. Highview Trail.

 

tyger31-
Steve Snow's comment is correct. If you call the county with the offending address, they will then start the enforcement process.