Parking on the lawn in Houston

Apparrently, in some American cities it's still ok to park on the lawn. Houston's city council may decide that that practice is not ok anymore in Houston. Unfortunately, and worse than having a Chevy on the grass, the law will allow homeowners to pave their yards to make room for additional parking.

Realtor Magazine has the story:

Lawns no place for cars. The Houston City Council in late June seemed rady to pass a law making it illegal to parl a vehicle on the front lawn of a single-family home or duplex. Supporters of the ban claim the vehicles depress property values and leak fluids that damage grass, trees, and buried utility lines. Opponents say it's a matter of the haves versus the have-nots. "We have a new generation of people moving into the city", says director of The Greater Houston area chapter of the league of United Latin American Citizens. "They grew up in the suburbs, where everyone had a nice green, pretty lawn. The have-nots have been living in this style for many years." Even opponents of lawn parking, though, won't be entirely happy should they win: The law would allow home owners to pave over their yards to accomadate their cars. The issue was reported in the June 20 Houston Chronicle.

I know that Palm Springs and Cathedral City have codes against parking on the lawn and paving over your lawn for parking. I believe, too, that code says your front lawn must be landscaped in some fashion. I think these are good codes to have. It's not about rich or poor, it's about quality of life. Everyone deserves to have "public" spaces that are pleasing to look at and to experience. Our front yards, in essense, are public spaces. While they are private property and belong to the homeowner to do "what he or she wants to do with the property", there are certain societal restrictions or acceptances to what someone may do with or in their front lawns. One can think of a number of things to do in their front lawn that wouldn't be accepted or allowed by society. These "restrictions" are for the common good of the community. I think any city or community that values it public spaces and the quality of life for its citizens will make it a priority to enact and enforce codes that resrict where cars may or may not be parked and that call for some sort of landscaping in areas that are visable to public.

Russell Hill, 760.902.3121, RussellHill.net