Panel to Draft RV Parking Law

The Palos Verdes Estates City Council voted 4 to 1 Tuesday to form a citizens committee that will draft an ordinance to prohibit parking boats, trailers and other recreational vehicles within public view.

Two weeks earlier, after a number of residents raised objections, the council postponed adopting an ordinance that would have banned parking recreational vehicles 18 feet and longer on city streets and in private driveways. Citing high storage costs and other problems, many residents said such an ordinance would make it difficult for them to keep their vehicles.

Councilwoman Rosemary Humphrey was named to chair the committee, which will include representatives from both sides of the issue. She will select six to eight committee members from a list of about 14 people who had previously volunteered to work on the issue.

The committee was instructed to prepare recommendations by April 13 on the types and sizes of vehicles that should be banned from street and driveway parking. They will also explore storage options and develop guidelines for the enforcement of parking prohibitions.

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

Mayor James Nyman told the audience Tuesday that formation of a committee does not mean an ordinance won’t be adopted. He said the council intends eventually to adopt a measure to regulate RV parking.

Councilwoman Ruth Gralow voted against establishing the committee because, she said, the council should be writing the city’s laws. “This is not the way you write laws,” she said in an interview after the vote. “You take public input and with the staff’s help, the council writes the law.”