P.V. Estates Backs Off Banning Motor Home and Boat Parking

The Palos Verdes Estates City Council backed away from an ordinance that would have banned the parking of motor homes and boats in front driveways, deciding instead to form a residents committee to study the issue and make recommendations to the council.

The decision came after two hours of public testimony Tuesday in which nearly 20 recreational vehicle owners told the council the ordinance would make it difficult to keep their vehicles.

The measure would have required garaging, storing or screening from view motor homes 18 feet or longer, as well as boats and trailers of any length.

Many owners said recreational vehicle storage rates are high, spaces are limited and the vehicles are often vandalized when in storage lots. One resident said vandalism to his motor home at a storage facility in Gardena cost $2,700 and forced him to move the vehicle to his driveway. “I hate to think of looking for a storage space,” he said.

Under an existing ordinance it is illegal to park a motor home in a front driveway longer than 48 hours. Police have said that the law is unenforceable because they can’t prove the vehicle has not been moved within the two-day period.

The council for months has talked about adopting a stricter ordinance regulating recreational vehicle parking because of complaints from residents who say that such vehicles are unsightly.

The council said the new committee will include six to eight residents representing both sides of the issue. One member of the committee will represent the city.

The council will specify at its next meeting, Jan. 31, what it wants the committee to accomplish. Those interested in serving on the committee may contact City Clerk Barbara Culver.