Costa Mesa gives RV owners 48 hours

Lolita Harper

Thanks to the persistence of rig owners, the willingness of the

City Council to listen and the patience of police staff, the city now

has a preliminary compromise to the long-standing recreational

vehicle debate.

Council members Monday unanimously approved the first draft of a

law that bans the parking of motor homes on public streets, with a

48-hour exception for loading and unloading in front of the owner’s

home. In addition, recreational vehicle owners could apply for an

additional 24 hours -- for a total loading time allowable of 72 --

for emergency repairs or extended trips, Costa Mesa Police Lt. Karl

Schuler said.

Once a contentious issue -- drawing a rowdy crowd that barraged

council members with hoots and hollers -- the rig dialogue at

Monday’s meeting was extremely polite, with all parties thanking each

other for the patience required to forge a workable compromise in the

community.

“We as a council really tried to get our hands around a very

difficult issue and we succeeded in coming forward with something

that I think goes a long way to address some of the concerns,”

Councilwoman Libby Cowan said after commending staff and audience

members for their hard work regarding the issue.

What started as a straight forward proposal to ban motor homes on

residential streets turned into a complex process in which the

police, the City Council and the community have helped refine the

suggested law. Since December, the council has considered and

subsequently delayed any action on about four different proposals --

including a placard system and a citywide ban that only allowed 24

hours for loading and unloading.

Dave Goss, the president of the grass roots RV Owners’ Assn.,

urged the council at Monday’s meeting to approve the revised 48-hour

exception, saying it allows rig owners enough time to prepare for the

average trip. In special circumstances, more time is needed but the

additional day -- which can be requested -- would suffice.

Goss also thanked the council and city officials -- Schuler

especially -- for listening to the community and drafting an

ordinance that represents a workable solution.

Council members have said they initiated tougher parking

restrictions for motor homes after hearing from numerous residents

that the large vehicles are unsightly and dangerous, and that some

owners use the public streets to store their vehicles. Those

residents were often absent from council meetings regarding the topic

but their views should still be respected, city leaders argued.

Resident Mark Harris said he represented the view point “of the

silent majority” when he spoke on Monday. Harris said he didn’t think

parking a recreational vehicle or a boat or trailer on the street was

aesthetically pleasing and, therefore, he refused to leave his own

boat on the street.

Harris commended recreational vehicle owners who stored their rigs

on private property and suggested the council approve the 48-hour

loading limit to allow “responsible” rig owners ample time to prepare

for their trips.

The proposed ordinance will come back to the council for final

approval at a meeting yet to be scheduled.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at [email protected].