Big Trucks, Pedestrians Don't Mix, Official Says

Visit the parking lot at Lowe's, especially in the evening or on the weekend, and you're likely to see a bunch of big trucks there.

Not making deliveries. They're coming and going -- or just parked.

"It (the lot) seems to be used as a truck stop," Council President Mike Daymut said.

The semi tractor-trailers don't belong there, he said.

"I've been contacted by some residents about it," said Daymut, who represents that area of the city. "I've been there myself when there are six or seven of them parked there."

It's become a safety concern, as well as an aesthetic issue.

"You just can't have 18-wheelers driving through the parking lot with families and cars," Daymut said. 

Daymut said truckers seem to be parking their rigs in the lot while they sleep, possibly at local motels. He said he believes a tenant at the nearby Cherry Tree Apartments stores two trailers for his business in the Lowe's lot.

"Residents have told me they've seen truckers changing their oil in the lot," he said.

A similar problem used to exist at , but management has put up signs prohibiting overnight truck parking.

Daymut said management at Lowe's has been "very cooperative" in trying to deal with the problem, but must get approval from the corporate offices before posting signs in the lot.

Deputy Police Chief James Kobak said the police department would speak with Lowe's officials to try find a solution.

Building Commissioner Tony Biondillo said once signs are posted, the city can enforce a truck ban. "It's easy enough if they post their parking lot," Biondillo said.

Daymut said truckers used to park at the undeveloped lot at the corner of Pearl and Whitney roads, so the entrance to that lot was blocked. Now they have moved to the paved lot at Lowe's.

"It's coming up to the busy season at home improvement stores," he said. "It's just not a good mix."