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http://www.omniture.com --> Sections Home Page Local News AP News Blogs Archives Business Classifieds Event Calendar Forums Life Opinion Obituaries Multimedia Photo Gallery Readers Photo Gallery Sports Tempo Weather Road Cams Special Coverage 2006 Britt Festivals --> Shop Our Valley AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Search Our Valley Special Sections Distinctly Northwest Readers' Choice Homelife Magazine Joy Magazine Oregon Golf Info Oregon Wine Info Other Publications Local Links Ashland News eSouthernOregon Newspapers In Education Personals Moving Here Movie Listings TV Listings Volunteer Customer Service Advertise With Us Media Kit Place Classified Ad Contact Us FAQ's Home Delivery Site Map --> Email Story to a Friend March 6, 2007 Unpaved driveways can cause problems Parking on gravel driveways can cause air quality issues, and can even result in fines By Meg Landers Mail Tribune Brian Lanning was surprised to discover recently that he had been parking illegally in his own driveway since the late 1980s. In February, the Springbrook Road resident received a notice from Medford's code enforcement office that he needed to park his car on the concrete portion of his driveway, not on the adjacent gravel portion. If he failed to comply, he could face as much as a $150-per-day citation. Lanning said he didn't want to break the rule, but he just didn't understand it. "I moved my vehicle up on the driveway," he said. "I was parking it on the gravel and I have for 20 years." Advertisement Glenda Owens, city recorder, said parking on gravel is an air quality issue. Owens said parking on gravel puts fine dust particles into the air, and driveways and alleys throughout the city are being paved to reduce the dust in the air. Owens said a resident can store a boat trailer or a recreational vehicle on gravel, but daily-use vehicles must be parked on asphalt or cement. Owens said the code enforcement office's notices are complaint-driven, and someone had called in Lanning's parking violation. Chris Reising, building department director, said the rule has been enforced in new construction since the 1990s, but going back and changing what already exists is more complicated. "There's lots of people that have unpaved driveways, that's a whole ball of wax, too," he said. Lanning said he's talked with city staff and researched the city code and realized he has another driveway violation, too. He said the code requires residences on "collector" streets (high-traffic streets that usually have two lanes and a center turn lane) to have a turnaround on the property so drivers can enter the street head-first, rather than backing onto a busy street. Lanning's property has no such turnaround. He said there are many other Medford residents in the same boat, and since he found the ordinance confusing, he worries that other residents may, too. Cory Crebbin, Medford's public works director, said the city typically would not require a property owner to put in a turnaround area until the owner came to the city seeking a permit to make some other change on the property. At that time, the property owner would have to add the driveway feature. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Would you like to respond to this story? If so Click Here to visit our forums. Advertisement Copyright © 1997-2007 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback online casinos news Home Security Systems Online Casino Reviews Trunks, Footlocker Fundraisers UK Homeowner Loans Casinos Canada Cord Blood Banking Discount Hotel Reservations Texas Electric Choice Compare Electric rates in Texas Windermere Van Vleet Men's Clothing Debt Help New Hampshire Primary