Sean C. Morgan
The Sweet Home Public Safety Committee is reviewing an early draft of proposed rules to govern the use of recreational vehicles for extended periods on residential property.
Currently, RVs may be used a maximum of seven days per year at any particular residence. The City Council asked the Public Safety Committee and Planning Commission to review the ordinance and look for a possible way to allow additional time for residents who may be spending most of their time on the road but returning to Sweet Home for short periods in between trips.
Earlier this year, local residents Brady and Jodi Pickle received notice that they were in violation of the city ordinance. Brady Pickle said they normally are home for short periods and let their grandchildren live in their house to help maintain security while they are gone. When they return to Sweet Home, they stay in their motor home.
In response to the code enforcement notification, the Pickles asked the Planning Commission for a permit to allow them to use their motor home. The Planning Commission denied the request, and the Pickles appealed to the City Council, which also denied the request, based on the ordinance.
Following that denial, the council asked the planning and public safety committees to consider possible revisions that might allow the Pickles and others like them additional time to use their RVs. City Attorney Robert Snyder provided a draft ordinance to the Public Safety Committee on July 22.
In the early draft, what Snyder called a pre-draft, the ordinance would close off a loophole that allowed different RVs to be used up to seven days at any particular property.
To assist residents in the Pickles’ position, the draft allows the use of an RV for seven days each year. Afterward, residents could apply for a permit that will allow another 15-day stay. Following that, residents could apply for a 30-day permit, allowing a maximum of 52 days per year.
That provision is similar to provisions Snyder found in other cities’ ordinances.
The city may charge applicants for the permits.
Public Works Director Mike Adams said the charge would be based on the cost of processing the application, researching information and inspections.
The draft proposes that hooking up to the city sewer system would be mandatory for a permit, and the permit would not grant occupation of an RV for more people than the manufacturer designed it to accommodate.
The draft also proposes allowing up to 10 days of occupancy for RVs in the event of a natural emergency that knocks out electrical service to a residence.
Addressing concerns planning commissioners have had in deciding requests like this in the past, typically for medical hardships, the draft defines recreational structures, recreational vehicles, trailer houses, storage, occupancy, RV parks and RV sales lots.
Public Safety Committee members will review the ordinance and continue discussions and potentially revise and refine the draft in a future meeting.
For more information about the draft and the Public Safety Committee, contact the city manager’s office at (541) 367-8969.