The McKinney City Council approved two new ordinances that restrict where people can sit, lie down or sleep in parts of downtown and across the city — measures that sparked debate among council members and residents alike.
Downtown Restrictions Take Effect
During its Oct. 21 meeting, the council voted 6–1 to adopt an ordinance that prohibits sitting, lying down or sleeping in certain downtown areas. Council member Justin Beller cast the sole dissenting vote.
Under the new rule, it is now unlawful to sleep outdoors or lie down on public sidewalks, streets, medians, parkways or pedestrian rights-of-way in the designated downtown district. Sitting on streets or medians is also prohibited.
The ordinance does, however, outline a few exceptions. These include medical emergencies, ADA compliance, sidewalk lease areas, parklets and special events. People may also sit on benches or other approved seating provided by the city or nearby property owners, as well as wait in line for services offered by downtown businesses.
Citywide Vehicle Camping Restrictions
A second ordinance — passed by a 5–2 vote, with Beller and council member Geré Feltus opposed — expands McKinney’s existing rules on camping. It clarifies that camping is prohibited in any publicly accessible area not designated for that purpose, and broadens the definition of “camping” to include sleeping in vehicles overnight.
This ordinance makes it unlawful to sleep in a car on public rights-of-way, in city-owned parking lots, or in residential driveways. However, people may still sleep in their vehicles in commercial parking lots with the owner’s permission.
Concerns Over Impact And Timing
“I think these two ordinances that we’re passing tonight are a step too far,” Beller said during the meeting. “These ordinances, I think, put people between a rock and a hard place. And until we have resources in place that give them an option, I think we are just pushing them further into that hard place. And it’s going to cause issues that they can’t recover from. And it’s not going to bring the solutions that we keep thinking it will.”…