KINGMAN – 28-year-old Silver Ridge subdivision resident Mitch Thofson is concerned about commercial truck traffic impacting his central Kingman neighborhood. The Thofson family lives on the corner of Raymond Avenue and Hillcrest Drive, directly west of the Planet Fitness facility.
Thofson recently told City Council members that eighteen-wheelers and big box truck drivers dangerously restrict traffic when they park on both sides of Hillcrest to work out or shower at Planet Fitness. He said he is concerned for the safety of his 11-year-old grandchild and other kids in the neighborhood.
Council member Keith Walker, a longtime resident of the subdivision, also expressed concern for the safety of handicapped individuals residing in a group facility on the north side of Hillcrest. Walker said the big rigs sometimes stack up all the way to Western Avenue with drivers tearing up streets and causing problems when backing up and U-turning within the residential mix.
“It is a problem. I would agree,” Police Chief Rusty Cooper told Council members. “If I was living in that neighborhood, I would be upset as well.”
Cooper said police cannot restrict travel of properly licensed motor vehicles, but that ordinance and other regulation can establish parking policy. He said the issues have the attention of the City Traffic Safety Commission and that signage and other options are under consideration to address big rig parking by Planet Fitness and elsewhere in Kingman.
Dave Hawkins
