Ordinance No. 26-07 Introduction Notice

ORDINANCE NO.  26-07

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OCEAN CITY, COUNTY OF CAPE MAY AND STATE OF NEW JERSEY, AMENDING THE MUNICIPAL CODE TO PROHIBIT THE PARKING OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLES ADJACENT TO MUNICIPAL PLAYGROUNDS AND RECREATION FIELDS

 

WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Ocean City finds that the parking of large commercial vehicles adjacent to areas frequented by children, specifically playgrounds and recreation fields, creates significant visual obstructions; and

 

WHEREAS, maintaining maximum visibility in these areas is critical for the safety and supervision of children and to ensure that law enforcement and the public can clearly monitor activity within these recreational zones; and

 

WHEREAS, New Jersey law, including N.J.S.A. 39:4-197, grants municipalities the authority to regulate the stopping and parking of vehicles for the safety of the public.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Ocean City that §4-32 “Parking of Commercial Vehicles, Boats and Boat Trailers” to read as follows:

 

Section 1.        

 

§4-32 h.  The parking of commercial vehicles, trailers and construction vehicles adjacent to municipal playgrounds and recreation fields is prohibited.

 

  1. As used in this section, the following definitions apply:

 

COMMERCIAL VEHICLE: Includes, but is not limited to, any motor vehicle, trailer or semi-trailer designed, used or maintained primarily for the transportation of property, goods, or passengers for financial compensation, or as part of a commercial enterprise. This term explicitly includes, but is not limited to (a) vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) exceeding 10,000 pounds; (b) vehicles designed to transport more than 8 passengers, including the driver, for compensation; (c) vehicles displaying commercial advertising, logos or USDOT registration numbers; (d) delivery vans, box trucks, tow trucks, semi-tractors, trailers, and heavy construction equipment. 

 

CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE/EQUIPMENT: Includes, but is not limited to, backhoes, bulldozers, mixers, chippers, dump trucks with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 7,000 pounds, and any vehicle primarily designed or used for construction or demolition.

 

TRAILER: Any vehicle without an engine or power source designed to be transported by attachment to a motor vehicle, including but not limited to utility trailers, landscaping trailers, commercial trailers, and boat trailers.

 

RECREATION ZONE: Any municipal playground, park, athletic field, or recreational facility owned or operated by the City of Ocean City or Ocean City School District.

 

  1. Parking Prohibitions.

 

 No person shall park, store, or leave standing any commercial vehicle,  construction vehicle, construction equipment, or trailer on any public street, alley or right-of-way where any part of such vehicle, equipment or trailer is withing fifty (50) feet of the property line of any Recreation Zone as defined herein.

 

  1.  Exemptions.

 

The provisions of this section shall not apply to;

 

  1. Emergency vehicles, including police, fire and ambulance equipment, while responding to an emergency.
  2. Vehicles owned and operated by the City of Ocean City, the Ocean City School District, or any public utility while actively engaged in official duties, maintenance or repair work.
  3. Commercial or construction vehicles actively engaged in the expedited loading or unloading of passengers or materials, or while actively rendering commercial services to a property within the prohibited zone.

 

Section 3.

 

       All ordinances or portions thereof inconsistent with this ordinance are repealed to the extent of such inconsistency.

 

Section 4.

 

If any portion of this ordinance is declared to be invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, it shall not affect the remaining portions of the ordinance which shall remain in full force and effect.

 

Section 5.

 

This Ordinance shall take effect in the time and manner prescribed by law.

                                                                        

The above Ordinance was passed by the Council of Ocean City, New Jersey, at a meeting of said Council held on the 21st day of May, 2026. Said Ordinance will be considered for adoption after an open public hearing to be held on Thursday, June 11, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in City Hall, Council Chambers, Ocean City, NJ 08226. Said ordinance will be made available in the Clerk’s Office for the members of the general public for copies and or review. Melissa Rasner, RMC, City Clerk.

                        

 

                                                                                                                                                                                    

5.19.26  Prohibits commercial vehicles, as defined, from parking adjacent to fields and playgrounds.

 

 

 

 

 

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