The Laurel City Council introduced two ordinances at its meeting Dec. 12 that aim to solve traffic concerns in two different Laurel communities.
Residents of Willow Oaks, a small grouping of single-family, detached homes for residents age 55 and older located off Old Sandy Spring Road, want the council to approve an ordinance that would prohibit large trucks and buses from traveling through the neighborhood.
According to Paul McCullagh, Public Works director, the residents told him too many trucks and school buses use Summerwind Circle and Berryleaf Drive, the community's two semi-circle shaped roads, to turn around upon approaching the western dead end of Old Sandy Spring Road.
Legally, the city can't restrict school buses from entering the neighborhood, McCullagh said, but it can put a weight limitation of 5,000 pounds on trucks that are allowed to travel through Willow Oaks. If the ordinance is passed, Public Works would put signs outside the neighborhood that read "No through truck traffic."
But McCullagh said the council and city officials may look at an alternative solution of putting a sign on Old Sandy Spring Road before Van Dusen Road, warning vehicles that the road dead ends.
The other ordinance the council introduced would prohibit parking on one side of certain streets in the Crescent Development, located off Cherry Lane.
The development, which has been built out over the past few years, was designed to have back-loaded garages, meaning driveways would be placed off small alleys to the rear of the units.
But the entire development was not able to be built that way, creating some roads with front facing driveways that leave little room for parking. Members of the Crescent Development Homeowners Association noticed some problems with people parking in areas where there is no adequate room to do so, McCullagh said.
The passing of the ordinance would allow Public Works to post "No parking" signs on the sides of Breckenridge, Rockcastle and Hardcastle streets where the driveways are located.
No one testified about either ordinance at the Dec. 12 council meeting, which was the last council meeting of the year. A second opportunity for public hearing, with possible action, on both ordinances is scheduled for Jan. 9.