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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 2c: Parking Regulations and Exceptions for Recreational Vehicles in Residential Zones ov y 11, �1 nus�"t iot REPORT STAFF Development Services Department DATE: March 6, 2012 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager/Development Services Directoroi,k By: Jim Kasama, Community Development Administrator(],, Prepared by: Thomas Li, Associate Planner -11 - `► SUBJECT: REPORT, DISCUSSION AND DIRECTION REGARDING PARKING REGULATIONS AND EXCEPTIONS FOR RECREATIONAL VEHICLES IN RESIDENTIAL ZONES. Recommended Action: Provide direction SUMMARY After being addressed by a resident at the January 17, 2012 City Council Meeting, the Council asked staff to present a report on the City's parking regulations for the single- family zones and how they are applied, interpreted and enforced. There is a four (4) vehicle and five (5) day parking limitation for standard passenger vehicles, but other types of vehicles are excepted, and as long as those other vehicles are operable and parked on an allowed paved area, there is no limit on how many may be parked/stored on the property. To add more restrictive measures to the zoning ordinance would require a text amendment, which involves public hearings before both the Planning Commission and City Council. BACKGROUND At the January 17, 2012 City Council Meeting, former Arcadia Planning Commissioner, Mr. John Murphy addressed the City Council on the subject of parking regulations, and provided the attached photographs of what the regulations apparently allow (e.g., covered vehicles stored in driveways, and recreational vehicles and boats stored in driveways) in his neighborhood, the Highlands. Mr. Murphy specifically referenced the following provisions from the Arcadia Municipal Code, which are applicable to each of the City's single-family zones: MOTOR VEHICLE LIMITATIONS—REQUIREMENTS. No more than four (4) motor vehicles shall be parked in the open, that is in a manner whereby the vehicles are visible from the adjacent public rights-of-way, on any single-family residential lot for more than five (5) consecutive days. The term "motor vehicles" as used in these Sections shall not include the following vehicles: trucks one (1) ton or larger, registered commercial vehicles, motorcycles, motorbikes, buses, motorhomes, recreational vehicles, trailers, boats and housecars. Mr. Murphy stated that he thinks these regulations are inadequate in that they allow too many vehicles, including large, recreational vehicles to be parked in the front yard and/or in a manner that is visible from public rights-of-way. In response, the City Council requested a report on the City's parking regulations for the single-family zones and how they are applied, interpreted and enforced. DISCUSSION As stated in the aforementioned regulations; excluded from the four (4) vehicle and five (5) day parking limitations are all manner of recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and large, commercial vehicles. Therefore, the first paragraph applies only to standard, passenger vehicles. Staff applies the five (5) consecutive-day limit such that not more than four (4) standard, passenger vehicles are to be parked in the open and visible from an adjacent, public, right-of-way. However, because it is inconvenient to park that many vehicles in a driveway, and because overnight, on-street parking permits are readily available, enforcement of the five (5) day limit is rarely necessary. Additionally, because of the availability of overnight, on-street parking permits and the exception of recreational vehicles from the four (4) vehicle and five (5) day parking limits, there are many single-family properties where the driveways are used to store recreational vehicles in full-view of public rights-of-way. Furthermore, because the City's regulations do not require that the vehicles parked/stored at a property be registered to the occupants of that property, there may be situations where the recreational vehicle being stored at a property belongs to someone other than a resident of that property. The photographs that Mr. Murphy presented included passenger vehicles that may be inoperable, recreational vehicles being stored in the open, and a vehicle parked on an unpaved surface. Storage of inoperable vehicles and parking on unpaved surfaces are violations that are covered by other provisions of the Municipal Code, and are readily addressed by Code Services. There is no limit on the number of registered commercial vehicles and/or recreational vehicles, including boats and other recreational equipment on trailers that may be parked/stored at a single-family zoned property so long as the vehicles are operable and parked on a paved surface, including in the front yard. To address Mr. Murphy's concerns, the City would have to adopt new regulations. Parking Regulations March 6, 2012 Page 2 Staff checked the regulations of nearby cities and found the following recreational vehicle (RV) parking restrictions for Pasadena, Monrovia, El Monte, and West Covina. The term, RV as used by these cities includes boats and trailers, but does not include commercial vehicles. City RVs allowed in Restrictions front yard? Pasadena Yes, but only if 1. Set back 5 feet from curb or sidewalk there is no 2. Cannot obstruct vehicular visibility vehicular 3. Cannot obstruct access to garage access to the 4. Shall be on a driveway leading to covered parking rear yard 5. Shall be operable 6. Shall be moved at least once every 30 days to allow cleaning of the driveway 7. Shall not be on a landscaped area 8. Must be owned by the residents of the property, and registration must be current 9. Shall not be used for storage, living or sleeping while parked on the property, and shall not be connected to utilities for more than 72 hours 10. May be parked for up to 72 hours for loading and unloading supplies in preparation for or after a trip Monrovia No Allowed in an enclosed building, or in the rear or side yards if screened from the street and adjacent properties El Monte Yes, but only if 1. Maximum of 1 RV may be parked on the property there is no 2. Shall be on a paved driveway vehicular 3. Shall be registered to the location where stored access to the 4. Shall be operable rear yard 5. Shall not encroach into any public right-of-way 6. Shall not obstruct vehicular access to the garage 7. Shall not be used for dwelling purposes 8. Shall not be connected to any utilities, except for temporary maintenance West Yes, by 1. Maximum of 2 RV's may be parked on the property Covina administrative 2. Shall be parked on allowed paved areas permit 3. Shall not block the use of the driveway or access to the garage or carport CONCLUSION Complaints about too many passenger vehicles being parked in a driveway or in public view are rare; and if there is a violation, the situation can easily be remedied with an Parking Regulations March 6, 2012 Page 3 overnight, on-street parking permit. Occasionally, there are complaints about recreational vehicles (RVs) being parked in front yards or adjacent to side property lines, but this is not prohibited by the Arcadia Municipal Code. Based on the photographs, it appears that Mr. Murphy is concerned about RVs being parked in front yards, and staff has found that other communities do regulate the parking of RVs. For the City of Arcadia to adopt similar zoning regulations, a text amendment is necessary, and that process includes public hearings on the proposed regulations before both the Planning Commission and City Council. RECOMMENDED ACTION Provide direction. Approved: ` -P ., Donald Penman, City Manager Attachment: Photos from Mr. Murphy Parking Regulations March 6, 2012 Page 4 (LEGALLY STORED AUTOS and LEGALLY STORED RV'S(EXAMPLE) JANUARY,2012 O xr .4 ; 4"[ yM ,per.. `µ ,.� R^' ® ! t...p prici '. F� n.m9 _ i g�f � K t..r ' F. ` i x 1. 1 . fi. Y f • t Rr F ,: ,,, .--- x t wMp.. -.,..R. ti•L !. ._ I Photos from Mr. Murphy distributed at January 17, 2012 City Council meeting