County moves to assist truckers in the Acreage, but semi-tractor trailers may need to go

Mike Diamond, Palm Beach Post
·4 min read
Picture shows two large semi trucks on a property in the Acreage area in violation of the county's zoning code
Picture shows two large semi trucks on a property in the Acreage area in violation of the county's zoning code

Plans to allow larger commercial trucks on residential property in the Acreage area are moving forward but there is little support for 33,000-pound-plus semi-tractor trailers. Still unresolved is whether to grandfather those who have been violating the existing county code.

Mayor Gregg Weiss said he would support giving the truckers time to relocate but said the large semi-tractor trailers do not belong in residential areas. Weiss said he recently received a complaint from a resident that someone is leasing their parcel to four separate owners of semi-tractor trailers.

Under the plan being developed by staff, homeowners would be able to have up to two commercial trucks as long they weigh under 16,000 pounds. Current regulations permit only one, and they must be under 12,500 pounds.

The contentious issue was brought to light by truckers this year who demonstrated outside the county administration building in protest of a code-enforcement crackdown. They have also packed commission chambers pleading for relief.

Moving vans, tractor-trailers and auto transport vehicles can all be found throughout the region. One company was cited for operating a business to repair semis. The Indian Trails Improvement District contends the roads it maintains were never built to accommodate the large commercial trucks.

More: No more semi storage in Acreage? County is cracking down — and truckers are not happy.

County commissioners spent more than an hour last month debating the issue. Mayor Weiss called on the truckers to stay calm. He brought in Sheriff’s deputies after audience members verbally reacted to comments made by commissioners. Weiss threatened to remove anyone from the chambers who interrupted the debate.

By the end of the session, county commissioners agreed to instruct staff to modify the existing code to increase the weight limit from 12,500 pounds to 16,000 pounds. Commissioner Maria Marino called the increase a major accommodation, noting that the new limit is above what most jurisdictions permit.

“I am not good with anything above 16,000 pounds,” Marino said. “We have to think of the greater good here and consider the impact on the more than 17,000 property owners who live in this region. We are talking about, at most, 500 people who want this change.”

The zip codes listed are in the Acreage area where truckers have been illegally storing large trucks, including semi-tractor trailers. County staff is developing a plan that would make it legal for trucks of up to 16,000 pounds to be stored but the large semi-tractor trailers would not be permitted.
The zip codes listed are in the Acreage area where truckers have been illegally storing large trucks, including semi-tractor trailers. County staff is developing a plan that would make it legal for trucks of up to 16,000 pounds to be stored but the large semi-tractor trailers would not be permitted.

While she acknowledged that the chamber was full of people who wanted to see the rules permit semi-tractor trailers, she said there are others with different opinions who declined to speak for fear of being “bullied.” The remark drew catcalls.

Susan Roach of Heritage Farms noted that she and her neighbors fought for years to get trucks out of her neighborhood, adding: “We are worried that if you allow these big trucks out there, it will bring us back to square one.”

Zoning staffers were directed in April to develop options for the commission to consider. Staff obtained data from the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles that identified registered trucks in four zip codes in the greater Acreage area. Weiss noted that the commission appears to be split as to whether owners of semi-tractor trailers already operating should be able to stay. Commissioner Maria Sachs, who was absent, could be the tiebreaking vote.

A Ford F-650 truck would not be allowed to be stored in residential areas of the Acreage under a plan being considered by county commissioners as it would still be over the permitted weight limit of 16,000 pounds; a plan under consideration would raise the limit from 12,500 but some truckers say the weight limit still needs to be raised.
A Ford F-650 truck would not be allowed to be stored in residential areas of the Acreage under a plan being considered by county commissioners as it would still be over the permitted weight limit of 16,000 pounds; a plan under consideration would raise the limit from 12,500 but some truckers say the weight limit still needs to be raised.

The staff report identified 516 trucks weighing greater than 10,000 pounds in the four zip codes; 53% were under 14,000 pounds. The current code restriction applies to lots of less than 5 acres in agriculture-residential zones. That would not change.

Staff is expected to return later this year with more detailed options for commissioners to consider.

Commissioner Sara Baxter, who has been pushing for a loosening of the code since she took office in November, called for her colleagues to allow for “a path forward” for those truckers with semi-tractor trailers to remain, noting that some have been operating in the region for as long as 20 years.

“All of a sudden, they are told they cannot be out there any longer," she said. "These people are very passionate. This is their livelihoods. Imagine how you would react.”

The ban on large commercial trucks is designed to protect residents from commercial vehicular traffic, noise, non-residential encroachment and negative visual impacts. Commissioner Michael Barnett said he was concerned that allowing semi-tractor trailers could lower the property values of adjacent homes and open up the county to a possible lawsuit.

State Rep. Rick Roth, who has been calling on the county to ease its regulations, told The Post he is encouraged by the county’s willingness to compromise, adding: “They are now listening to the people impacted by these rules. That was not happening before.”

Roth, though, said it was important that existing operators be “grandfathered” in and any fines imposed against them be erased.

Mike Diamond is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government and transportation. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach County, truckers negotiating on semi tractor-trailers