Long-term parking no longer allowed
By Joann Groff joann@theacorn.com
The Calabasas City Council has decided to make major changes to its recreational vehicle parking ordinance after residents in the city continued to complain about the unsightliness of the vehicles and other issues.
The current ordinance prohibits a recreational vehicle from being parked in one spot for more than 72 hours. Under a new law, which is expected to be approved soon, RVs will be allowed on public streets for overnight loading and unloading only.
"We would not want the ordinance to (become more relaxed)," said Lucy Martin, president of the Greater Mulwood Homeowners Association.
"It's a safety issue, especially in neighborhoods where children are walking to and from school," Martin said. "(One RV) is parked over the sidewalk. Any pedestrian has to walk around it into traffic to get back on sidewalk. Its dangerous because of kids that walk, or when parents are picking up their children from school, you can't see around them."
Most neighboring cities and the unincorporated community of Oak Park have similar ordinances that restrict RV parking.
"I am seeing a violation, a visual blight in our neighborhood that you all have a responsibility to correct," Calabasas resident Harry Preston said. "This is not unique to Calabasas. I don't know why there's a big issue to this. The city spends $1.8 million on beautification of the city every year. All we ask is you do same thing for RV storage."
Last year, the City Council asked the planning commission to review the RV ordinance. Commissioners recommended the ordinance include horse trailers, large boats and other oversized vehicles. The commissioners also recommended using permits that would allow parking for a 10-day period.
"The planning commission could see instances, certainly in the summer time months, where people drove across country in an RV and simply want to make a family visit," said Maureen Tamuri, Calabasas community development director.
But the lengthy-stay proposal was defeated.
The City Council also objected to the construction of walls taller than 6 feet in order to screen RVs next to homes.
The role played by homeowner associations also came under question.
"Some HOAs want very vigorous enforcement for this issue," Tamuri said. "We are doing the best we can, but can't always (be there). . . . We have hundreds of these vehicles and trying to track them all over the city is problematic."
According to the new ordinance, a resident must apply for a 24hour parking permit that allows them to park their RV in front of their home when preparing for a trip, or unloading after a trip.
The law goes into effect 30 days after final approval. There will be a "soft enforcement period," while city staff notifies residents of the changes.
