Tractor trailers parked on narrow side streets.

Firetrucks unable to squeeze past.

Residents looking out their windows at commercial rigs that have sat unmoved for days.

Borough Council President Connor Rodgers said last week the municipality wants to put a stop to it.

Thursday night council will consider advancing a proposed ordinance that would prohibit large commercial vehicles, recreational vehicles and boats from parking on borough streets for extended periods.

The measure was modeled largely on a similar ordinance already in place in neighboring municipalities and would be formally drafted by the borough solicitor before going to public comment.

He said Lansford, Lehighton, Nesquehoning and Weatherly have discussed regulations.

Rodgers said he and Police Chief Joe Schatz had previously discussed specific incidents where oversized vehicles blocked access on narrow borough streets.

“We’ve had tractor trailers parked on side streets here in the borough, and there’s no way fire equipment can get down the streets,” Rodgers said. “That’s a big concern.”

Beyond safety, Rodgers framed the issue as a quality-of-life matter in a borough that draws heavy tourist traffic year-round.

“Some residents don’t want to look outside their window and see a massive tractor trailer parked on the borough streets for long periods of time,” he said. “It impedes their quality of life, it interferes with the peaceful and quiet atmosphere that we have in our borough, and it certainly impedes emergency vehicles as well.”

Under the proposed ordinance, tractor trailers, truck tractors, semi-trailers, combination vehicles and any single vehicle exceeding 26,000 pounds would be barred from parking on borough streets. RVs, campers and boats would also be prohibited from extended street parking.

The measure includes exemptions. Deliveries, temporary loading and unloading, and vehicles engaged in public utility construction, maintenance or repair work within the borough would all be permitted. Utility trailers and enclosed trailers would continue to fall under the existing 72-hour parking rule rather than face an outright prohibition.

Council debated whether large working vehicles such as dump trucks, crane trucks and similar equipment would be covered under the weight threshold.

Rodgers said officers would be expected to use judgment when encountering vehicles that are actively on the job.

“If there’s a dump truck that’s obviously dropping a load off to a resident, they’re paving a new driveway or something like that, they wouldn’t be going after that,” Rodgers said. “It’s more so for the extended period of time.”

Council also discussed whether to set specific time limits, noting that some municipalities define windows of up to six hours. The consensus last week was that enforcement would focus on overnight and weekend situations rather than require officers to time individual vehicles.

Rodgers said he has heard broad support from residents but acknowledged the ordinance may still have blind spots.

“I’ve heard a lot of people mention this to me that they would like something like this,” he said. “I’m sure there’s another side to it, or something that’s missing so council would be happy to take comments on the ordinance.”

Thursday’s action would authorize the solicitor to draft the ordinance. Once drafted, it will be advertised for public comment before returning to council for a formal vote.