COSTA MESA : Recreational Vehicle Parking Ban Denied

A man who is irritated by his neighbor’s large recreational vehicle asked the Planning Commission on Monday to ban such vehicles from parking on city streets.

But commissioners refused to prohibit the motor homes, which must be moved every three days to avoid parking tickets, on a 3-2 vote.

Theodore Encinas, a resident of Alaska Avenue, told commissioners he became upset after moving into his home last September and discovering that a motor home parks frequently in front of his property.

“When I have to look out my front window, this is not appealing to me,” Encinas said. He also said the vehicle takes up too much street parking, and blocks his vision when he drives onto the street.

Mike Scheafer, who lives around the corner on California Street, said he owns the motor home, which he said is 25 feet long.

“There are a lot of motor homes in Costa Mesa, and only a couple of people who want them off the street,” Scheafer said. Still, he said his motor home is for sale because of his neighbor’s irritation.

Peter Naghavi, city manager of transportation services, told the commission that in almost two years, only four people have complained to the city about parked motor homes. Two more residents complained to commissioners Monday that the vehicles are eyesores.

But the commission said the problem is not big enough to warrant action. “It doesn’t seem to me that the residents of this city are overly concerned with this issue,” said Commissioner John Palme.)

“I just have this concern that we chip away at people’s rights and liberties endlessly,” said commission Chairman Walt Davenport.