HomeMy WebLinkAboutAttachment 5 CC AgStmt 11/3/03
CITY C'LERK
File # D0J[1]Ø]-[l][QJ
AGENDA STATEMENT
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: NOVEMBER 4,2003
SUBJECT:
Residential Off-Street Recreational Vehic1e Parking Regulations
Alternatives.
Report Prepared by: Andy Byde, Senior Planner
ATTACHMENTS:
. 1. Location of Allowed Parking Spaces on a Residential Lot
2. Planning Commission Minutes of August 12,2003
3. Planning Commission Minutes of August 26, 2003
4. City Council Minutes of June 17,2003
5. Safety Analysis of Recreation Vehicle Parking
RECOMMENDATION: /11.011. Receive Staff Presentation;
Á ¡¡V. 2. Maintain the existing off-street parking regulations; or
3. Provide Staff with direction regarding desired modification(s) to
the Residential Off-Street Recreational Vehicle Parking
Regulations.
FINANCIAL STATEMENT:
BACKGROUND:
At the October 15, 2002, City Council meeting, the City Council directed Staff to prepare a report
regarding the off-street parking of recreational vehicles in residential areas. In January of 2003, Staff
returned to the City Council with a report on recreation vehicles. The report discussed the history of
regulating recreation vehicles within Dublin; the current regulations for off-street parking as they relate to
recreation vehicles; and an inventory of existing recreational vehicles parked in off-street locations. At
the conclusion of the January meeting, the City Council directed Staff to return with examples of heights
and lengths of recreational vehicles and some potential size limitations for evaluation.
None at this time.
On June 17,2003, Staff returned to the City Council with examples of heights and lengths of recreational
vehicles with potential size limitations for evaluation. At the conclusion of the June meeting, the City
Council directed Staff to evaluate modifying the current regulations for recreational vehicle parking to
allow for more flexibility in parking a recreational vehicle on a single family lot and to evaluate the
resulting impacts from modifying the regulations.
Specifically the City Council directed Staff to evaluate modifying the requirement that recreational
vehicles cannot cross ITom the nearest side lot line area into the side yard area (from the yellow into the
blue area as shown on Attachment 1). Currently the recreational vehicle regulations state that a 6-foot
fence must screen any vehicles parked within the side yard. The modification would eliminate the
screening requirement and allow recreational vehicles to be located anywhere within the nearest side lot
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I C5'O 4-
ITEM
rATTACHMENT S
.. ... ...;;¡.... ~ ~. _ i;, -c-;:-.-
COPIES TO:
G:\PA#\2003103-028 Recreational Vehiclelccsr offstree! 11-04-03 direction,doc
In House Dist
line area (yellow area) or side yard area (blue area) as long as the vehicle maintained a I-foot setback
from the public right-of-way. .
As part of evaluating the contemplated change to the recreational vehicle parking regulations, the City
Cotµlcil requested Staff to complete the following tasks prior to returning to the City Council for
additional direction: (1) research the background of the requirement that recreational vehicles cannot
encroach beyond the front of the house into the side yard area (from the yellow into the blue area); (2)
confer with public safety staff to determine potential impacts to public safety resulting from modifying
the parking regulations; (3) research the height and lengths of motorhomes; and (4) evaluate potential
discretionary permit process to regulate recreational vehicles based on length and or height. Prior to
having a subsequent hearing on modifying the recreational vehicle regulations, the City Council requested
the Planning Commission provide input to the contemplated changes and any other modifications it felt
were appropriate.
Background of Recreational Vehicle ParkinS! ReJ!Ulations:
In May 1982 (after incorporation), the City of Dublin adopted the Alameda County Planning and Zoning
Ordinance as the City of Dublin Zoning Ordinance. Over time, the City amended and modified the
Zoning Ordinance to address specific needs and issues within the community. Under the early City of
Dublin Zoning Ordinance, recreational vehicles were prohibited from being stored in the Front Yard or
required Side Yard in residential zoning districts. In 1986, the Zoning Ordinance was amended to
regulate recreational vehicles to allow them to be stored in the driveway or nearest side lot line area
(yellow area). Additionally, the amendment allowed vehicles to be parked within the Side or Rear Yard,
provided that the vehicle was screened fro~ view by a six-foot fence. Staff's research into the history and
intent of the aforementioned requirements were two fold: (1) limit the lengths of vehicles visible from the
front yard; and (2) provide various parking options (as long as the vehicle was screened from view).
ANALYSIS:
Public Safetv Issues:
Staff met with the public safety staff (consisting of Building and Safety Division, the Fire Prevention
Division, and Police Services) to discuss whether the current off-street residential recreational vehicle
parking regulations impacted public safety and whether changing the current regulations would impact
public safety.
Five public safety issues associated with recreational vehicles parked and/or stored on a single family lot
were identified by members of the public safety staff and are as follows (see Attachment 5 for a complete
discussion on each of these safety impacts and issues):
1. Obstructing egress from the home in an emergency situation;
2. Obstructing access by emergency personnel to the rear of the home;
3. Obstructing site distance for motorists and pedestrians;
4. Potential for causing a fire to spread to adjacent structures; and,
5. Creating additional hiding places.
Public Safetv Issues Conclusions and Recommendations:
The standard garage dimension is approximately 20' in length. Limiting the size of recreational vehicles
to 20-25' feet in the side yard adjacent to the garage would keep them closer to the garage and farther
from the living space of the home.
2
Safety staff concluded that whether a recreational vehicle crosses the blue/yellow delineation does not
pose additional life safety issues as longs as the recreational vehicle is kept further back from the sidewalk
and closest to the garage portion of the home. Maintaining adequate distance from the sidewalk and
keeping the vehicle close to the garage would ensure the vehicle is not blocking viewable site distance
and would minimize obstructing egress from the bedroom windows.
Height and Lengths of Motorhomes:
Staff conducted research on various types of motorhomes, included below is a table, which includes the
heights and lengths of various classes and mo~els of motorhomes.
Small Class A Large Class A Class B Van Camper Small Class C Large Class C
Vista (Volkswagen Minnie I.M'nne (Van
Model Name Sightseer Ultimate Freedom Volkswaoen Camver Van) ChasisJ
Heiaht 11'-10" 12'-2" 6'-7" 10'-2" 11'-7"
Lenath 27'-10" 39'-11" 16'-11" 21'-4" 31'-4"
Width 8'-5" 8'-5" 6'-1" 7'-3" 8'-5"
Based on Staff's cursory review of various types of motorhomes the vast majority of newer Class A and
the largest Class C motorhomes are over 30 feet in length. These types of vehicles would not fit within
the driveway or nearest side lot line area, given the current regulations.
Requested Direction trom Planning Commission:
The City Council requested the Planning Commission to provide input on the contemplated modification
(the requirement that recreational vehicles cannot cross from the nearest side lot line area into the side
yard area i.e. from the yellow into the blue area) or other changes to the recreational vehicle regulations
that the Planning Commission determines are appropriate. At the August 12,2003, Planning Commission
meeting, the Planning Commission discussed the appropriateness of modifying the current regulations.
The Planning Commission voted to continue the discussion until the August 26th meeting in order to allow
the Commissioners the ability to conduct some field visits to the various neighborhoods to view
recreational vehicles parked off-street (see August 12,2003, Planning Commission minutes, Attachment
2).
At the conclusion of the August 26th Planning Commission meeting, the Planning Commission voted
unanimously that no changes be made to the ordinance, with a request to the City Council to direct Staff
to more proactively enforce the current recreation vehicle regulations (see August 26, 2003, Planning
Commission minutes, Attachment 3).
Discretionarv Permit Process to Regulate Recreational Vehicles:
Currently, the Zoning Ordinance allows a Variance for an applicant that wishes to deviate :fi:om any
current development standard, including parking of a recreational vehicle. However there are 5 required
findings to approve a Variance, these include: (1) special physical circumstances applicable to the
property; (2) the adjustment shall not constitute a grant of special privileges; (3) the granting of the
Variance will not be detrimental to persons or property in the vicinity or to the public health, safety and
welfare; (4) the Variance is consistent with the purpose and intent of the applicable zoning district; and
(5) the variance is consistent with the Dublin General Plan and with any applicable Specific Plans.
Findings 1 and 2 often prove to very difficult to find in the affinnative due to the'similarity of the existing
lot patterns within the City.
If the City Council determines heights and or lengths should be regulated, an appropriate discretionary
permit to grant exceptions to size regulations would be a Conditional Use Pennit. Considerations for
3
determining the appropriateness of deviation could include: certain screening requirements, establishing
minimum lot sizes, establishing minimum driveway lengths, requiring minimum setbacks from adjacent
properties, and other performance related standards.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council receive the Staff presentation and maintain the existing off-street
parking regulations; 'or provide Staff with direction regarding desired modification(s) to the Residential
Off-Street Recreational Vehicle Parking Regulations.
Q