TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

FROM: DIRECTOR OF PLANNING, BUILDING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT

DATE: MAY 6, 2003

SUBJECT: PROPOSED RECREATIONAL VEHICLE RESIDENTIAL STORAGE AND STREET PARKING REGULATIONS

Staff Coordinator: Jan Neth, Senior Code Enforcement Officer

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends the City Council: 1) Review and consider the Planning Commission’s proposed ordinance regulating recreational vehicle (RV) parking and storage on private property; 2) Consider additional public testimony; 3) Adopt the proposed ordinance with direction that the Planning Commission review the effectiveness of the new ordinance and any potential street parking impacts six months after adoption; and 4) Direct the Traffic Committee to address the issue of street parking of oversize vehicles and report its findings to the Planning Commission.

BACKGROUND

Provided below is a summary of the discussions that have occurred at City Council and Planning Commission meetings on the RV issue. The corresponding Staff reports and minutes are attached for the Council’s review.

City Council Meeting of May 21, 2002

On February 13, 2003, the Administrative Report (Friday Report) discussed the issue of recreational vehicle (RV) parking and storage on private properties and public streets that was brought to Staff’s attention by the receipt of several resident letters. At the request of Councilman Clark, the item was agendized, and on May 21, 2002, the City Council discussed whether to consider amending the Municipal Code to restrict recreational vehicle (RV) parking and storage on private property and public streets.

At the meeting, Staff and the residents indicated that the other peninsula cities have stricter RV parking and storage requirements on both private properties and

on public streets. Three residents spoke during the public hearing regarding their concerns with private property RV parking and storage and urged the City’s involvement in regulating the issue. The Council agreed to remand the issue to the Planning Commission to explore possible revisions to the existing code and noted that the Traffic Committee should deal with problems arising from RV street parking and storage. The Council also directed Staff to obtain input from the Council of Homeowner Associations before forwarding the matter to the Planning Commission for discussion.

Planning Commission Meeting of December 10, 2002

After obtaining input from the Council of Homeowner’s Association, local RV dealers, the other 3 peninsula cities, and the Public Works Department (Traffic Committee), Staff presented information regarding: 1) RV parking on City streets; 2) RV parking on private property; 3) possible oversized RV restrictions; 4) possible side yard setback restrictions; and 5) screening (see attached Staff Report). In the report, Staff concluded that some additional restrictions could be added to the City’s existing property maintenance ordinance that would address the concerns brought forth by resident complaint letters, and hopefully would not drive RV owners to move their RV's into the street creating an additional problem with street parking. The Planning Commission discussed issues regarding RV parking and storage on private properties and public streets and asked Staff for further review of the City of Palos Verdes Estates’ ordinance. The Commission also asked Staff to address additional restrictions for private property parking and storage, the definition of an RV, permit parking and RV occupancy issues, real estate disclosure issues, and both the private and public street parking issue. The item was continued to the meeting of January 28, 2003.

Planning Commission Meeting of January 28, 2003

As directed by the Commission, Staff drafted some additional restrictions for RV parking and storage, in the form of a draft ordinance, while considering the issues brought forward during the discussion portion of the December 10, 2002 meeting.

During the public hearing, the Commission heard the testimony of 26 public speakers, 5 of whom spoke in favor of stricter regulations, and 21 of whom spoke against stricter regulations on RV parking and storage (see attached minutes). One of the speakers was Mr. Ernie Giannioses, resident and representative of the Good Sam Club and the Family Motor Coach Association. Mr. Giannioses spoke against over regulating the RV issue with a very informed and reasonable approach based on his association with the RV community and the Good Sam

Club’s prior efforts participating in other city’s regulatory efforts in similar situations.

After reviewing the extensive amount of resident e-mail, and listening to the public testimony, it was the general consensus of the Commission that the City should consider amending the existing code to address the RV private property parking and storage complaints in the least restrictive way as possible. Overall, the Commission agreed that the suggestions they had discussed at the December 10, 2002 meeting, were too restrictive, and should not be included in the draft ordinance. However, the Commission brought forth additional concerns regarding oversize RV's, the proposed perpendicular parking restriction, a possible guest permit process, the 72-hour street parking issue, a variance process, grandfathering conditions, screening RV's, real estate agent disclosure about RV storage, and the number of RV's allowed on a lot. The Commission further stated that Staff should explore what jurisdiction the Traffic Committee has for RV parking on public streets, and what issues they would look at if this item were on their agenda. Staff was directed by the Commission to continue the item to the March 11, 2003 meeting, work with Mr. Giannioses from the Good Sam Club, and provide an additional staff report addressing these issues.

Planning Commission Meeting of March 11, 2003

At the direction of the Planning Commission, Staff met with Mr. Ernie Giannioses, City resident and representative of the Good Sam Club and the Family Motor Coach Association, in order to obtain input regarding the proposed RV ordinance. After meeting with Mr. Giannioses, and discussing his personal ideas, and those of numerous residents who had been in contact with him since the Planning Commission meeting of January 28, 2003, Staff modified the proposed ordinance for parking and storage of RV's on private property to reflect these ideas and concerns. The modified draft ordinance was presented to the Commission on March 11, 2003.

At the meeting, the Commission discussed several concerns they had with the proposed ordinance, and took public testimony that included resident speakers and Mr. Giannioses, representative of the Good Sam Club (see attached minutes). Ultimately, the Commission agreed to forward the draft ordinance, with a minor language change clarifying the perpendicular parking requirement, to the City Council for adoption, and to pursue the street parking issue at a later date. The Planning Commission also recommend to the City Council that the proposed ordinance be reviewed 6 months after its adoption.

Planning Commission Meeting of April 22, 2003

On April 22, 2003, Staff sought clarification from the Planning Commission as to its recommendation to the Council on the public street parking issue. The

Commission agreed to recommend that the Council take no action on amending the City’s existing 72-hour street parking code at this time but to assess potential

street parking impacts at the time of the 6 month review of the proposed ordinance regulating private property parking and storage. The Commission also recommended that the Council direct the Traffic Committee to look into the impact of oversized vehicle street parking in regards to traffic safety with the idea of establishing possible guidelines for the street parking of such vehicles. The Commission further recommended that the City Council direct Staff to develop a system to track oversized vehicle street parking complaints and to provide residents with the regulations for the parking and storage of RV's on the City’s website.

DISCUSSION

Draft Ordinance

The proposed ordinance that has been forwarded to the Council by the Planning Commission establishes additional regulations for the parking and storage of RV's on private property by amending the City’s current Property Maintenance

Ordinance (section 8.24.060 of Chapter 8 in the Municipal Code). The draft ordinance is attached for the Council’s review. In summary the new regulations would:

1. Clarify that inoperative recreational vehicles, watercraft, aircraft and any other vehicles not stored within a fully enclosed structure are prohibited
2. Allow recreational vehicles to be parked or stored only on developed residential properties
3. Clarify that a vehicle that is parked or stored on a lawfully paved surface must not overhang into landscaped areas or the public right-of-way
4. Require that parked or stored vehicles be kept in a well maintained condition, or be covered with a well maintained vehicle appropriate cover
5. Require that parked or stored vehicles be parked essentially perpendicular to the street
6. Prohibit parked or stored vehicles from being occupied or used as second units, unless the property owner has obtained a guest permit from the Planning Director

After the Planning Commission meetings of December 10, 2002, January 28, 2003, March 11, 2003, and April 22, 2003, the Commission has recommended that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance and direct Staff to review it 6 months after its adoption. The Planning Commission has also recommended that potential street parking concerns should be monitored through a method developed by Staff, and a report on the street parking issue be reviewed by the Planning Commission at the same time the 6 month review report is presented to the Planning Commission. Furthermore, the Planning Commission

recommended that the Council direct the Traffic Committee to address the issue of street parking and that a report of the Traffic Committee’s findings be presented to the Planning Commission at the same time the 6 month review report is presented to the Planning Commission.

Public Comments

After the RV parking and storage concern became an issue of discussion at the Planning Commission meetings, Staff received numerous e-mails and letters from residents expressing their concerns both pro and con on the matter. The majority of the residents comments were from residents who were opposed to over regulating the RV parking and storage issue and were received after the December 10, 2002 Planning Commission meeting. Copies of the resident’s comments can be located after the attached Staff Report for that meeting. The public comments became less as the Commission agreed that over regulating the RV issue was the avenue Staff would follow in drafting the proposed ordinance. Since the April 22, 2003 Planning Commission meeting, Staff has not received any written comments on the matter.

CONCLUSION

In consideration of the Planning Commissions concerns, public testimony and e-mails, and the input from Mr. Ernie Giannioses, it is Staff’s belief that the proposed ordinance addresses the residents concerns in a non-restrictive manner that still allows residents to park their RV's on their private property. It is Staff’s recommendation that the City Council adopt the proposed ordinance, and direct Staff on how to proceed with monitoring street parking issues associated with RV's and oversized vehicles.

Respectfully submitted,
Joel Rojas, AICP
Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement

Reviewed by:
Les Evans
City Manager

Attachments:
Draft Ordinance
April 22, 2003 PC Staff Report with attachments
March 11, 2003 Planning Commission Staff Report with attachments
March 11, 2003 Planning Commission minutes
January 28, 2003 Planning Commission Staff Report with attachments
January 28, 2003 Planning Commission minutes
December 10, 2002 Planning Commission Staff Report with attachments
December 10, 2002 Planning Commission minutes
May 21, 2002 City Council Staff Report with attachments
February 13, 2002 Administrative Report

ORDINANCE NO. ___

AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES REGULATING THE PARKING OF CERTAIN VEHICLES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND AMENDINGTHE RANCHO PALOS VERDES MUNICIPAL CODE

THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Section 8.24.060 (Prohibited activities and unlawful conditions) of Chapter 8.20 of Title 8 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code is hereby amended by amending paragraphs 5 and 6 thereof to read as follows:

"5. Abandoned, wrecked, dismantled or inoperative trailers, campers, boats and other motor vehicles which motorized or non-motorized vehicles, including, but not limited to, automobiles, recreational vehicles, trailers, campers, boats, motorized or non-motorized watercraft, aircraft, or gliders, that are not stored within a fully enclosed space structure;

"6. Trailers, campers, boats and other mobile vehicles or equipment parked or stored in front or side yards or on any other portions of property used or zoned for residential purposes, other than on lawfully installed paved surface;

"6. Any automobile, recreational vehicle, motor home, house trailer, tent trailer, camper, boat, motorized or non-motorized watercraft, aircraft, glider, or any other operable motorized or non-motorized vehicle or trailer (hereafter referred to collectively as "vehicle") that is not parked or stored in the following manner:

1. Any vehicle shall be parked overnight or stored only on developed properties.
2. Any vehicle parked on an essentially direct access driveway shall be parked perpendicular to the street of access.
3. Any vehicle shall be parked or stored on a driveway or other lawfully installed paved surface so that the entire vehicle fits over the paved surface without overhanging into unpaved areas or into the public right-of-way.
4. Unless the vehicle is kept or stored within a fully enclosed structure, the vehicle must be kept in a well-maintained condition or be covered with a vehicle cover that was designed for the particular type of vehicle, provided that the cover is continually maintained in good repair.
5. Unless a temporary guest permit has been issued by the director, no vehicle shall be occupied or used as a second unit for sleeping, cooking, office, or other similar purposes, and no vehicle shall be connected to electricity, water, or sewer lines, except for the temporary purpose of charging batteries, filling water tanks, or legally removing material from any gray and black water tanks. Temporary guest permits shall be issued only for properties that are developed with a single family residence. A temporary guest permit shall not be effective for more that fourteen calendar days, and no more than three temporary guest permits may be issued for any residence during any calendar year.

Section 2. Chapter 17.96 "Definitions" of Title 17 of the Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code is hereby amended by adding thereto the following definitions in alphabetical order and by renumbering all successive sections of said Chapter to read as follows:

Driveway, direct access.

"Direct access driveway" means a driveway that is perpendicular to the street and provides vehicular access from the street to the garage through a door that is parallel to the street.

Vehicle, recreational.

"Recreational vehicle" means any motor home, camper, house or tent trailer that may be used by persons for temporary occupancy, regardless of whether it has its own motor or is to be towed by a motorized vehicle. Recreational vehicle does not mean a mobile home.

PASSED, APPROVED and ADOPTED this ________________ day of ____________________, 2003.

_________________________

Mayor

ATTEST:

_______________________

City Clerk