RV rules back before city supervisors

A set of new rules governing motorhomes and trailers in Carson City is back before city supervisors this week after criticism from RV owners led to several changes in the proposed ordinance.

Most of the changes are to clear up confusing language, but after recreational vehicle owners complained at a public hearing last month that the proposed rules were too strict, city officials have relaxed some of them.

Time RV owners spend loading or unloading their vehicles won't count against a limit on how long the vehicles can be parked on city streets under the new version of the ordinance. And a 72-hour per month limit on parking RVs in the street might be lengthened before the Thursday supervisor's meeting, said Carson City Development Director Walter Sullivan.

A requirement that RVs parked in driveways be at least 12 feet from the sidewalk has also been reduced to 8 feet, after several letters from local RV owners - and that's only in spots that are within 10 feet of a neighbor's driveway.

The setback requirement was initially set in response to complaints that RVs block the view of neighbors trying to back out of their own driveway.

"I've had calls on this both ways," Sullivan said.

While some residents have complained that RVs muck up views, create safety hazards and lower property values, others have told city officials to let RV owners be.

"Having lived in this fine town for the best part of 20 years, I am more than disappointed as I watch more and more restrictions being imposed upon the citizens," resident Dirk Spencer wrote to Mayor Marv Teixeira.

Teixeira agreed with Spencer that parts of the code proposed last month were too strict.

Among other restrictions, the new code would also limit the time RVs can be in commercial parking lots that accommodate motorhomes and trailers, such as Wal-Mart, to three days. It would limit the amount of time travelers can park in a commercial parking lot while shopping to 12 hours.

Thursday will be the bill's first reading. It won't be passed into law until a future Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting.

n Contact reporter Cory McConnell at cmcconnell@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.

If you go

What: Carson City Board of Supervisors meeting

When: 8:30 a.m. Thursday

Where: Sierra Room of the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St.