Photo by Peter Day
Cement trucks parked on a residential street in southeast Hesperia are silhouetted as day fades into night last Saturday evening.
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Council contemplates pulling the handbrake on truckers
November 8, 2007 - 12:10AM
Staff Writer
The years of Hesperia being the truckers' haven in the High Desert may be coming to an end.
At Wednesday night's Hesperia City Council meeting, a majority of the board indicated their desire to more strictly regulate where and how truckers can park within city limits.
Current restrictions, which allow parking on residential lots and along city streets on a temporary basis, are much more lenient than neighboring communities: Apple Valley only allows trucks to be parked on lots 2 ½ acres and larger, while Victorville prohibits them entirely.
"So where are their truckers?" asked Mayor Rita Vogler.
"Hesperia," replied Tom Harp, the city's deputy director of development services. "Approximately a complaint a day is going into Code Enforcement and the [Hesperia station of the] sheriff's department."
"Well, obviously, we have a problem here with trucks," Vogler said. "I myself feel we're overwhelmed."
The approaches suggested by the council varied. Thurston "Smitty" Smith suggested trucks could only park on non-residential lots one acre or larger.
"A couple of bad apples are ruining it for all of you," Smith said.
Ed Pack suggested no truck parking in the city at all without city registration.
"I don't know how to regulate it, but it's got to be fair to both people," Pack said.
A room full of truckers made no secret of how they felt about the proposed changes.
"It would definitely kill my business," Charles Gayland said.
"If there is a problem with a certain individual trucker, Code Enforcement or the sheriff's department should enforce the existing laws," said Sharon Sadd. "Just because dogs bark in the city 24 hours a day, you don't make up a new law outlawing dogs."
"Please respect those people who are trying to earn a living," Robert Corpe said.
The council did not vote on new rules Wednesday. Instead, staff will take the council's suggestions and formulate several choices for them to vote on at a later date, with advice from the Community Development Committee, which will hold a special meeting in December to consider the issue.
The next meeting of the Hesperia City Council will be a special Tuesday meeting, held on November 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Hesperia City Hall, 9700 Seventh Avenue.
Beau Yarbrough can be reached at 956-7108 or at beau@hesperiastar.com.
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Reader's comments
| Granted there are soome drivers that park on the street for long periods of time. But that does not mean that all Owner Operators or drivers that should be punished for a few. I was born here in the high desert when there was still horses ranches. This is my livihood this form of a job pays my mortage my childs extra sports my property taxes. The high desert has always been a place to live raise your children and be who you are. The truck drivers have been long before alot of the new people up here. Most truck drivers have enough property to park there trucks. And we should not be made to SUFFER for a few. Truck drivers are proud people and do a great supporting thier home and family. The people that are compaining should think about how thier homes were built . How did the would get to the location of your homes it did not just appear a TRUCK brought the items there. Next time you get in your car think about how it got to the dealership one again it was a TRUCK who brought it. Next time your brush your teeth, use toliet paper, get gas, put clothes on think about it. Most products come other states such as Ohio Proctor and Gamble Detroit vehicles you really need to think about it. WHERE WOULD YOU BE WITHOUT A TRUCK! Instead of complaining be greatful and understanding. I am not agaist you for what you do or your husband does for a living don't be against what we do for a living. You don't want trucks then maybe you should think about moving back down the hill, and leave Hesperia the way it has been for years, and then everyone can been happy and we will stay proud of who we are and what we do because, that will never change. |
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| Stormy DeHaro - Feb 29, 2008 10:02:04 AM | Remove Comment |
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| I OWN a small, 8 Peterbilts, but successful trucking company leased to a major retailer. I have also lived in Hesperia 30 years. I do NOT, nor would I ever bring my trucks to my home. Trucks DO NOT belong in residential neighborhoods-period. I see haz-mat loads and gyppo outfits parked in the streets here in southeast Hesperia, reefer units running 24/7. When I am off work, I do NOT want to see, hear or smell another truck. BAN THEM and do it quickly. Commercial truck parking is CHEAP -100-125 per month-secured parking and zoned for trucks. I would NEVER inflict my business on my neighbors. We all have a right to peace and quiet. If I wanted to live next door to a "Pilot" truck stop I would have moved there. Get trucks OUT of the neighborhoods ! |
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| blamere - Nov 21, 2007 07:44:31 PM | Remove Comment |
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| We had a neighbor who parked two, count 'em two, semis in their yard that was less than a half acre. Where was code enforcement then? We have another neighbor who parks at the edge of our narrow street everyday at lunch time so that you have to pass him on the other side of the road. It takes anybody forever to get here if you report it, so by the time they get here he's gone. The guy across the street would park his semi on the dirt at the edge of the road so it was at least out of the way of traffic, but then he'd let kids play with the air horn for hours. I called several times but nobody ever came out. Believe me, if I could afford to move I'd be out of here like a shot. Hesperia has turned into an awful place to live. I wish I could leave. |
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| Sue - Nov 14, 2007 08:47:20 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Martin, you proved my point. Trucks do not belong in every RESIDENTIAL neighborhood. They belong in commercial areas. You are also wrong about truckers building this City. I have lived here since 1978 and they were not allowed at all in residential areas before we became a City because we were under San Bernardino County codes and they were not allowed when Hesperia first became a City. The ordinance that was created years later needs to be amended to ban trucks in RESIDENTIAL areas. These areas are for HOMES not truck stops or trucking businesses. Close the door City Council. You have no idea what you have created by allowing them in these areas. |
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| Resident - Nov 12, 2007 08:12:31 AM | Remove Comment |
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| Trucker are important to Hesperia they bought their land and house here because they could park their trucks. I have been living here 26 years now. The truckers made Hesperia before it was a City of Hesperia. Before you Vote them out you better check their number this is trucker city of Hesperia. I know some don't want growth you might kill it to much altoghter. What's next no large RV's that would not be good for RV RANGE get my point. Check the numbers of truckers you go down most streets in Hesperia you will see trucks open your eyes. Someone said a dog barks you don't get rid of all dogs. |
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| martin - Nov 11, 2007 07:34:48 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Here |
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| Birdy - Nov 11, 2007 02:10:58 PM | Remove Comment |
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| I also owned a home in Hesperia. I was born here, graduated from Hesperia High. I got married and by daughter was born here as well. The cities Code Enforcement Dept isn't worth a darn. They make repeat calls to the same residence and nothing changes. The residential area that I lived in was taken over by mexicans with roosters, pit bulls running loose and loud music. I got tired of calling. I couldn't get one day of peace and quiet in my own home. I sold it and couldn't wait to get my family out of there. I am not sorry I did. I bought a home in Apple Valley and I am not sorry I did. Their Code Enforcement Dept knows how to do their job. Most of the time you don't have to call them. They patrol the neighborhoods and actually look for violators before you have a chance to call. They don't babysit violators by giving them numerous chances to get it right. I can finally arrive home from work and have a PEACEFUL evening on my porch without all the noise going on around me. |
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| BJ - Nov 09, 2007 10:57:11 AM | Remove Comment |
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| I purchased my new home in an older area of Hesperia 5 years ago. When I first moved in it is a quiet, peaceful area. Within 2 years the roosters arrived, then the loud music, then the truckers. I dont' live in an agricultural or commercial area, it is residential. I didn't come to the problem, it came to me after I moved here. The City says it is allowed when contacted. As soon as I can, I selling my house and I am out of here. This City is nuts and so are the people running it for allowing these types of things in residential areas. I am moving to a City that knows what the word residential means. |
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| OutOfHere - Nov 09, 2007 09:16:26 AM | Remove Comment |
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| I was born and raised in the City of Hesperia. I graduated from HHS, got married, purchased my first home, had 2 children and planned on spending the rest of my life in Hesperia and having my children attend HHS. All that came to and end 4 years ago when next door neighbors brought in 2 horses and their pen was next to the fence by our back yard pool. They hardly ever cleaned up after them. Everytime we had a BBQ or swam in the pool we could smell the stench of horse manure. Repeated complaints to Code Enforcement only resulted in them cleaning it up temporarily but there was no permanent solution. It occurred over and over again for 7 years. I finally got disgusted and sold our home because there was no where in HHS school district area that didn't have the same or similar animal problem issues that are never resolved and some were worse than mine. I sold my home and bought one in Victorville. They don't tolerate those kinds of things and they fix it permanently when you do call them. No repeat performances that get you no where. |
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| Jennifer - Nov 08, 2007 08:51:27 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Our City government has always tried to serve two masters. They will allow something like trucks, roosters, in home businesses, etc to appease those that want them but they will enact an ordinance to regulate what they have foolishly allowed to appease those that don't want them hoping that it will solve the problem and make everyone happy. It only increases the need for code enforcement costs. Instead of taking a stand and banning these things like other cities have done and continue to do, they keep trying to please everyone and years later in the end our tax dollars are wasted. Stop trying to serve two masters. You only add to the problem every time you do this and good people are leaving this City because of it. I wonder what you will be left with 10 years from now? |
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| OldTimer - Nov 08, 2007 12:54:44 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Our City Council is trying to be FAIR to all! This attitude is what keeps getting our City into these problems in the first place. You allow something trying not to offend anyone and then when the City is overwhelming with calls and complaints you try to be FAIR TO ALL. Take a dam stand and stop allowing these things in the first place and it won't result in these kinds of problems. Follow Victorville's lead who seems to get it right and they don't worry about being FAIR. They do what is right for the City as a whole by not wasting money on all these enforcement issues that are created by the City in the first place. |
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| Fair? - Nov 08, 2007 12:22:44 PM | Remove Comment |
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| Mayor Vogler asked where do the truckers go from Victorville since they are banned there? HESPERIA. Since the City doesn't know how many truckers are in the City they also don't know that Hesperia residents allow their trucker friends to park their rigs at their homes as well. Many neighborhoods look like truck stops. Is that the vision you have a City leaders? If so, perhaps the voters will have a different vision come election time. You all made promises. I ask that you keep them. Victorville banned trucks a long time ago and have saved a lot of money in the process from road repairs and code enforcement issues. Now they have come to Hesperia. When is our City going to wise up and be proactive instead of constantly chasing your tales when the problem that you ALLOWED in the first place has now become overwhelming. Stop thinking for the moment and start thinking about the future and stop allowing things to take over our City and expend funds for code enforcement when it could be spent elsewhere. |
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| Why? - Nov 08, 2007 11:53:13 AM | Remove Comment |
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| CouncilmanSmith. It isn't just a few bad apples. Do you really know how many trucks park in residential areas in this City? No, that is the problem. They are in every neighborhood and some don't live or own the property that they are on. They run trucking companies out of their homes with multiple trucks and this doesn't belong in residential areas at all. They carry cargo that has no business being in residential areas and you haven't even addressed that issue at all. Limit them to commericial areas. They are ruining the roads that the city spent millions of dollars repairing. This problem hasn't gotten bigger and it will continue to be as long as you allow it to happen. Victorville got smart years ago and banned them. Get Tough and have some backbone like Victorville did it will be more cost effective in the long run. It is what is best for our City. Stop trying to be liked by everyone. Do the job that the voters elected you to do and stop wasting our money. |
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| GetTough - Nov 08, 2007 11:08:41 AM | Remove Comment |
