HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 2015 0701 CCSA REG ITEM 09D ITEM 9.D.
CITY OF MOORPARK,CALIFORNIA
City Council Meeting
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ACTION: �”
MOORPARK CITY COUNCIL .Atcanesznaerrosse
AGENDA REPORT _
BY: �I
TO: Honorable City Council
FROM: David A. Bobardt, Community Development Director
DATE: June 23, 2015 (CC Meeting of July 1, 2015)
SUBJECT: Consider Suspension of Enforcement of Recreational Vehicle and
Trailer Parking and Storage Standards on Private Property in
Residential Zones
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
Section 17.32.120 of the Zoning Ordinance, most recently amended on August 1, 2007,
regulates the long-term storage of recreational vehicles and trailers on private property
in residential zones. Under the current regulations, recreational vehicles and trailers
may only be stored in an interior side yard behind the front line of the adjacent dwelling
or garage (usually 20 feet or more from the front property line) on a paved surface and
screened from the street with an 8-foot high opaque decorative gate, and screened from
adjacent property with landscaping. From October 18, 2006 to August 1, 2007,
recreational vehicles and trailers were allowed to be stored in a side or rear yard
adjacent to the dwelling or garage provided they were at least 10 feet from the curb, 10
feet from the rear property line and screened with a 6-foot high opaque decorative gate.
From March 2, 1994 to October 18, 2006, recreational vehicles and trailers could also
be stored in a driveway, as long as they were at least 10 feet from the curb. From
February 2, 1991 to March 2, 1994, any motor vehicle, including motorized recreational
vehicles could be parked anywhere on a driveway or paved area adjacent to the
driveway, as long as they were 3 feet from the side property line. Trailers were not
allowed in the front yards at this time. Prior to 1991, the applicable code provisions
were similar to the current code.
In January 2010, staff completed a citywide windshield survey of recreational vehicle
and trailer storage in order to understand the magnitude of compliance efforts needed
for these regulations. At that time, staff identified over 300 recreational vehicles and
trailers that were not stored in compliance with the 2007 regulations. This survey was
repeated in 2011 with similar results.
The Community Development Department staff has not pro-actively enforced the City's
recreational vehicle and trailer storage regulations in recent years, but has responded to
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Honorable City Council
July 1, 2015
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complaints when received, due to staffing limitations and higher code compliance
priorities. Staff has from time to time received complaints about recreational vehicle
and trailer storage, mostly in neighborhoods without homeowner associations. Staff
recently mailed out code compliance letters to 13 property owners with non-compliant
recreational vehicle or trailer storage in one neighborhood north of Peach Hill Road from
which several complaints were received. Of the 13 properties, 5 have quickly been
brought into compliance through the removal of the vehicles, and one is in the process
of achieving compliance.
It would be difficult for many of the recreational vehicle and trailer owners with non-
compliant storage to meet the current standards for storing their vehicle on their
property as most lots would not have sufficient room in the side yard for recreational
vehicle storage. Staff believes the recreational vehicle and trailer storage regulations
should be revisited and alternatives should be evaluated that provide additional
flexibility for storage, while maintaining the aesthetics of the City's residential
neighborhoods. Staff is preparing an agenda report for Council consideration in
September to evaluate possible changes to the Zoning Ordinance related to
recreational vehicle and trailer parking regulations. It is expected that an ordinance
could be drafted for Planning Commission and City Council consideration within 3 to 4
months. In the interim, staff recommends suspension of enforcement of the current
regulations in Section 17.32.120 related to recreational vehicle and trailer storage on
private property in residential zones until the City Council considers such an ordinance.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Direct staff to suspend code compliance efforts at enforcing provisions of Section
17.32.120 (Recreational vehicle and trailer parking and storage standards) of the
Moorpark Municipal Code through September 30, 2015.
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