Neighbors Hail Plan to Tow Away Illegally Parked Trucks

Neighbors of an 8-year-old roof removal business are applauding a city plan to tow away illegally parked trucks.

City officials say the use of tow-away zones on Orangewood Avenue is only the beginning of a crackdown on the operations of A&P; Roof Cleanoff Services.

“Ultimately, it seems to me that the solution is probably to find another location where this business could operate legally in a zone that’s appropriate for the use,” City Manager Terry Matz told council members earlier this week.

Neighbors say that trucks operated by the business line their street in the mornings and afternoons, blocking driveways and making excessive noise, seven days a week. They say their complaints have been met with threats and vandalism from company employees.

“We have found syringes; we have found Baggies; we have found joints out there,” resident Elaine Knight told council members. “We can’t allow our children to even walk next door, because we don’t know who might be out there.”

Pastor Arias, co-owner of A&P; Roof Cleanoff, said the complaints are exaggerated but agreed there has been a problem with trucks blocking residential driveways. Arias said most of the company’s operations will be moved to a more suitable location on Dale Avenue by Sept. 6.

“We’re going to move a lot of stuff. The street is going to be clear,” Arias said. “But I hope they will let us stay there with at least a couple trucks.”

City Neighborhood Services Manager John White said the business is improperly operating as a transfer center, where roofing materials are unloaded from small trucks into 18-wheel big rigs. If the problems are not corrected by Sept. 10, White said, the city will declare the business a public nuisance and take further enforcement action.