On Dec. 12, 2017 the BOCC directed staff to make changes to a proposed Recreational Vehicle ordinance amendment prior to public hearings. The amendments are being proposed to reduce incidences of travel trailers/RV’s being used as permanent residences on undeveloped property in the county.
The amendments would change the permitted use of recreational vehicles in all zoning districts where mobile home use is allowed from a period of 6 months to 30 days.
It sets limits on the number of non-resident visitors to a property. While the original ordinance says the visitors can only remain on the premises of the visited family for a period not to exceed 14 days, the amendment adds that the “visiting party permits” the visitors are required to obtain within two working days of arrival are “limited to one per calendar year per property.”
The following are additions to the ordinance relating to living in a recreational vehicle/travel trailer while building a permanent residence on a property,
“ln all zoning districts where mobile home use is permitted, a recreational vehicle or travel trailer shall be permitted as a temporary dwelling for a maximum period of one (1) year on the same property while an approved residential building permit has been issued and remains active for construction of a permanent residential dwelling. The recreational vehicle or travel trailer must be removed at the time the certificate of occupancy has been issued or the time period expires, whichever occurs first . In zoning districts where mobile homes are not permitted, a recreational vehicle or travel trailer may be permitted through a Conditional Use permit subject to Planning and Zoning Commission approval.
“In cases of extreme personal hardship, a recreational vehicle or travel trailer may be utilized on one lot of record as a temporary second principal building with a Conditional Use permit subject to Planning and Zoning Commission approval.”
“I had no idea that on my private property, I couldn’t have my friends come from South Carolina and stay on my property for three weeks or even a month,” said Shirley Miketinac.
“You have to pull permits for these things. I’m questioning the whole concept,” she remarked.
“Where are private property rights in all of this?”
She also asked why would a property owner have to remove their recreational vehicle or travel trailer once the Certificate of Occupancy has been granted for the new residence. She said it should state that the utility connections should be removed since people should be allowed to keep their RVs or travel trailers.
“The real problem you’re after are people abusing the law (with) multiple recreational vehicles, leaving them for massive amounts of time…”
She emphasized that the amendment and the ordinance in general is overly restrictive to the visitors who come here and support our economy.
Wayne Dukes explained, “People were going into residential areas, putting an RV there, sort of like Beverly Hillbillies and staying and they can stay for 6 months, which means if you did it in June, come Dec. 31st you could do 6 more months and you’d be there a year. That’s not the intent of this county to have an RV as your permanent residence.”