TO: CITY COUNCIL
VIA: CITY ADMINISTRATOR
Placentia City Council
179M
FROM: DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
DATE: MARCH 15, 2022
SUBJECT: STUDY SESSION: RECREATIONAL VEHICLE PARKING POLICY DISCUSSION FISCAL
IMPACT: NONE
SUMMARY:
At the April 20, 2021, City Council ("Council") meeting, Staff was directed to research the City's current recreational vehicle ("RV") regulations within single-family residential districts related to the storage of RVs on private property. Staff evaluated existing Placentia Municipal Code (PMC) Section 23.78.145 "Parking and Storage within Required Front Yard Setback", Section 23.78.150 "Parking and Storage Behind Required Front Yard Setback", and Section 23.78.155 "Parking and Storage Within a Side Yard Abutting a Street", including conducting a survey of similar ordinances from eight (8) local jurisdictions to analyze similarities and differences between regulations in those jurisdictions regarding the storage of RVs on private property. The findings of the survey were presented at the July 6, 2021, Council meeting. At that meeting, Staff requested Council to provide direction upon several policy questions. Due to the quantity of items requiring policy direction, the Council opted to create an Ad -Hoc Committee ("Committee") related to RV parking.
The Committee consisted of Councilmember Yamaguchi, Councilmember Smith, and Development Services Department staff, with the goal of analyzing and potentially amending existing RV parking regulations if directed to do so by the City Council.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following action:
1. Review the presentation and ask any questions of Staff and the RV Parking Ad -Hoc Committee; and
2. Provide policy direction on any potential municipal code amendments related to RV parking; and
3. Based upon said policy guidance, direct Staff to prepare the necessary amendments to be considered by the City Council at a future meeting.
3. b.
Mar. 15, 2022
City Council Agenda
March 15, 2022
DISCUSSION:
According to the RV Industry Association, a national trade group representing manufacturers and component suppliers producing approximately 98% of all RVs manufactured in North America, during 2020 and 2021, RV sales throughout the country hit a record high with 11.2 million households owning an RV in 2021, up 62% over 6.9 million households in 2001, and 26% more than the 8.9 million RV -owning households reported in 2011. The COVID-19 pandemic served as a catalyst to this recent rise in RV ownership, in which families were seeking alternative means of travel in a safe and socially distanced manner.
Conversely, the sudden rise of RV ownership has put a strain upon an already limited supply of RV storage facilities throughout the Orange County region. With a supply shortage of storage facilities and rates ranging between $50 and $500 per month depending upon the type of storage needed and requested amenities, residents have been storing RVs on their own residential properties. This has resulted in an uptick in RV complaints from neighbors and subsequent issuance of citations by the City's Code Enforcement Division. However, Staff continues to receive complaints regarding RVs parked in driveways and along the City streets.
At the April 20, 2021, Council meeting, Staff was directed to research the City's current RV regulations within single-family residential districts related to the storage of RVs on private property. Staff evaluated existing PMC Sections 23.78.145 "Parking and Storage within Required Front Yard Setback", 23.78.150 "Parking and Storage Behind Required Front Yard Setback", and
23.78.155 "Parking and Storage Within a Side Yard Abutting a Street". Upon review of the aforementioned PMC Sections, Staff noted that the City's current regulations only permit RV storage within the front yard setback of a single-family residential lot if it is motorized or mounted to a truck body with an approved Special Use Permit by the Development Services Director. All non -motorized RVs or similar apparatuses are required to be located outside of the front yard setback and within side and rear yards of a property.
In addition, Staff conducted a survey of similar ordinances from eight (8) local jurisdictions to analyze similarities and differences between regulations in those jurisdictions regarding the storage of RVs on private property. The local jurisdictions surveyed included the cities of Fullerton, Yorba Linda, Brea, Anaheim, Orange, La Habra, Buena Park, and Santa Ana. Upon an analysis of the conducted survey, it was determined that four (4) out of 10 noted regulatory requirements were not consistent with other jurisdictions. The inconsistencies can be found in the following areas: (1) mandating a permit for RV storage within the front yard setback area of a single-family lot, (2) having separate development standards between motorized RVs and non -motorized RVs, and (3) not having requirements for RVs located within street side yards as well as RV screening requirements.
The findings of the survey were presented at the July 6, 2021, Council meeting. At that meeting, Staff requested Council to provide direction upon several policy questions. Due to the quantity of items requiring policy direction, the Council opted to create the aforementioned Committee related to RV parking.
City Council Agenda
March 15, 2022
The Committee met on September 16, and November 15, 2021, and resolved several regulatory questions with exception of those noted below. If the City Council wishes to proceed with amending the existing RV parking ordinance, Staff seeks policy guidance on the following subject areas:
Minimum setback distance of recreational vehicles and/or similar apparatuses located within the front yard area of a single-family residential property. • Maximum requirements for the percentage of paving within the front yard area of a single- family residential property.
Maximum number of recreational vehicles and/or similar apparatuses within the front yard of a single-family residential property.
Prepared by:
Andrew Gonza e f
Senior Planner
Reviewed and approved:
Damien R. Arrula
City Administrator
Reviewed and approved:
J s ph M. Lambert
Director of Development Services
Attachments:
1. Draft Code Amendment Language Related to Off -Street Parking of Recreational Vehicles
2. PowerPoint Related to Parking of Off -Street Parking of Recreational Vehicles