Placentia Cit Council
TO: CITY COUNCIL
VIA: CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT SERVICES
DATE: JUNE 7, 2022
AGENDA REPORT
SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION AND FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 0-2022-05, WHEREBY CHAPTER 23.78 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE SHALL BE AMENDED
REGARDING THE STANDARDS AND REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS FOR
THE STORAGE OF RECREATIONAL VEHICLES AND RECREATIONAL
APPARATUSES ON PRIVATE PROPERTY WITHIN SINGLE-FAMILY
RESIDENTIAL DISTRICTS (ZONING CODE AMENDMENT 2022-02)
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 23.78.140 "Parking and Storage of Recreational Vehicles in Residential Districts", Section
23.78.145 "Parking and Storage Within Required Front Yard Setback", Section 23.78.150 "Parking and Storage Behind Required Front Yard Setback", Section 23.78.155 "Parking and Storage Within a Side Yard Abutting a Street", and Section 23.78.175 "Parking Recreational Vehicles", and 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 findings of the survey were presented at the July 6, 2021, Council meeting. At that meeting, Staff requested Council to provide direction on 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 with the goal of drafting an updated RV parking ordinance. Following several meetings with the Committee, City Staff developed a final draft RV parking ordinance that was presented to the City of Placentia Planning Commission on May 10, 2022. The Planning Commission reviewed the draft ordinance and recommended approval with minor modifications to the Council.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council take the following actions:
1. Open the public hearing concerning Ordinance No. 0-2022-05; and
2. Receive the Staff report, consider all Public Testimony, ask any questions of Staff; and
2.c.
June 7, 2022
City Council Agenda
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3. Close the public hearing; and
4. Find that adoption of Zoning Code Amendment No. 2022-02 is categorically exempt from environmental review and direct Staff to file a Notice of Exemption, pursuant to CEQA Section 15061(b)(3); and
5. Waive full reading, by title only, and introduce for first reading, Ordinance No. 0-2022-05, an Ordinance of the City Council of the City of Placentia, California, finding that approval of Zoning Code Amendment No. 2022-02 is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Pursuant To CEQA Section 15061(B)(3) and approving Zoning Code Amendment No. 2022-02 amending Title 23 (Zoning Ordinance) of the City of Placentia Municipal Code regarding the standards and regulatory requirements for the storage of recreational vehicles and recreational apparatuses on private property within single-family residential districts as defined by Chapter 23.78 — Off -Street Parking; and BACKGROUND:
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 City streets.
DISCUSSION:
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",
23.78.155 "Parking and Storage Within a Side Yard Abutting a Street", and Section 23.78.175 "Parking Recreational Vehicles". Upon review of the aforementioned PMC Sections, Staff noted that the City's current regulations only permit RV storage in the front yard setback of a single- family residential lot if it is motorized or mounted to a truck body with a Special Use Permit approved by the Development Services Director. All non -motorized RVs or similar apparatuses
City Council Agenda
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are required to be located outside of the front yard setback and are permitted along 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 in 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 in 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 on several policy questions. Due to the quantity of items requiring policy direction, the Council opted to create the aforementioned Ad - Hoc Committee related to RV parking.
The Committee consisted of Councilmember Jeremy Yamaguchi, Councilmember Ward Smith, and Development Services Department staff, with the goal of analyzing and potentially amending existing RV parking regulations.
RV Ad -Hoc Committee
The Committee met on September 16, and November 15, 2021, and resolved several regulatory questions with the exception of those noted below. At the March 10, 2022 Council meeting, Staff presented a draft RV ordinance which responded to several regulatory questions raised at the prior Council meeting, but required further policy direction on three regulatory provisions listed below:
• Minimum setback distance of recreational vehicles and/or similar apparatuses located in the front yard area of a single-family residential property.
Maximum requirements for the percentage of paving in the front yard area of a single-family residential property.
• Maximum number of recreational vehicles and/or similar apparatuses in the front yard of a single-family residential property.
Council discussed those provisions and provided final direction for Staff to aid in the completion of the draft ordinance.
Planning Commission
On May 10, 2022, the Planning Commission reviewed the draft ordinance. Upon discussion of the ordinance, two areas of concern were raised by the Commission. The Commission raised concerns related to the following provisions:
City Council Agenda
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• Requiring tire coverings for both the RV and RV apparatuses; and - Prohibiting RV and RV apparatuses to be parked at perpendicular angle to the street.
The Planning Commission deliberated and made a motion to amend the abovementioned sections of the draft ordinance. The motion included (a) removing the provision requiring tire coverings and (b) requiring RV and RV apparatuses to be parked at a perpendicular angle only when located within the front yard setback area as prescribed by the respective zoning district development standards. The Planning Commission motioned to recommend approval of ZCA 2022-02 to the City Council with minor amendments.
CEQA:
The proposed zoning code amendment was reviewed by Staff in accordance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA"). Based on that review, Staff and the Planning Commission both recommend that the City Council find that adoption of ZCA 2022-02 is exempt from environmental review pursuant to the provisions of the CEQA, Section 15061(b)(3) in that the proposed Code Amendments are not expected to create a negative impact on the physical environment and it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may have a significant effect on the environment.
Recommending Body Determination:
On May 10, 2022, the City of Placentia Planning Commission held a public hearing and recommended that the City Council adopt a Categorical Exemption for this project and approve ZCA 2022-02 with minor amendments to the draft ordinance as prepared by Staff.
Prepared by:
Andrew Gonzale
Senior Planner
Reviewed and approved:
Damien R. Arrula
City Administrator
Prepared by:
Director of Development Services
Attachments:
1. Ordinance 0-2022-05 - Chapter 23.78 Off -Street Parking