The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutMINUTES - 07192005 - D4 =- Contra TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ^�� •� (;osta FROM: Dennis M. Barry, AICP, Community Development Director - County ou DATE: July 19, 2005 SUBJECT: Administrative Interpretation of "Adequate Screening" of Mobile Homes, Travel Trailers, Camp Cars, Vessels and Vessel Trailers -- N-- - -- - SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATIONS: ACCEPT the report from the Community Development Director on modification to the subject administrative interpretation in Section 84-68.1404 of the County Code. FISCAL IMPACT: None. Approval of the report will provide staff with direction in the administrative interpretation of this Code Section and will not entail any further cost. BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: Ordinance Code Section 84-68.1404 (and prior Code) specifies that "The storage in any land use district of a mobile home, travel trailer, camp car, vessel, or vessel trailer at the residence of the owner or any other residence is permitted when not used for living or sleeping purposes; provided, that the mobile home, travel trailer, camp car, vessel, or vessel trailer shall be adequately screened from view from public roadway or thoroughfare." For several decades, County staff has advised that the provision of fencing or gating,which is six feet tall, would provide adequate screening under the meaning of this section of the Code. In recent decades, however, the market for these sorts of vehicles has changed considerably. Whereas, when this Code Section was written and the initial administrative interpretation concerning fencing was formulated, travel trailers and camp cars were generally of low profile on the order of six to eight feet. Under those circumstances, six- foot fences reasonably provided adequate screening. CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES ❑ NO SIGNATURE RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR _RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMM TTEE --APPROVE OTHER SIGNATURES .000001w- z4i;aa ACTION OF B A DON - z Aev APPROVED AS RECOMMENDEDOTHER_ VOTE OF SUPERVISORS / I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND UNANIMOUS (ABSENT � CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND AYES: NOES: ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN. Contact: Dennis M. Barry, AICP (925/335-1276) ATTESTED cc: Community Development Department (CDD) JOHN SWEtTEN, CLERK OF THE County Administrator's Office, Attn: John Gregory BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND County Counsel COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR Building Inspection Dept. — Property Conservation Division DMB:gms B , DEPUTY h\dmbd\Storage MOHo.80 Administrative Interpretation of"Adequate Screening"of Mobile Homes,Travel Trailers,Camp Cars,Vessels and Vessel Trailers July 19,2005 Page Two BACKGROUND/REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS — Continued Recent trends in the manufacture and sale of recreational vehicles has yielded vehicles that are much larger and have substantially greater surface area. Some recreational vehicles today exceed 12 feet in height. Accordingly, the County's interpretation of adequate screening should be modified from the allowance of a six-foot fence to one which is based upon the screening of a percentage of the surface area of the vehicle which would otherwise be visible from a public roadway or thoroughfare. I have determined that changing to a standard which requires 90% of the massing of the vehicle being screened either through the utilization of landscaping,fencing,or intervening building mass, would provide adequate screening for today's modern vehicles subject to this Code Section. If the Board of Supervisors should favor a different standard, staff will be happy to incorporate that standard \ REQUEST TO SPEAK FORM /��► � (THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) Complete this form and place' it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressing the Board. Name:, Phone: qco . �. Address: 1 /7 City: P/ease note that if you choose to provide your address andh ne number, this information will become a public record of the Clerk of the Board in association with this meeting. am speaking for myself or organization: CHECK ONE: p I wish to speak on Agenda Item # 4 Date: 0 eZ) My comments will be. 11 General For El Against El I wish to subject of:1 speak on the sub' P do not wish to speak but would like to leave these comments for the Board to consider: 9.00 Please see reverse for instrucYPns, qqq,,!Tportant information REQUEST TO SPEAK CORM (THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT)Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers'rostrum before addressing the Board. Name: _W! � �/� Phone: �2 5��2k- 7//6 Address: /00 �C)A.�e,)vj WAY City: ALA 1't t /A)LZ� Please note that ff you choose to provide your add ss and phone number, this information will become-a public record of the Clerk of the Board in association with this meeting., am speaking for myself_� or organization: CHECK ONE: p I wish to speak on Agenda Item # Date: 0 71*l C� My comments will be: 11 General N For El-Against D I wish to speak on the subject of: s�� CS-7-0 A01V El Ido not wish to speak but would like to leave these comments for the Board to consider: Please see reverse for instructions and important information p REQUEST TO SPEAK FORM (THREE (3) MINUTE LIMIT) � Complete this form and place it in the box near the speakers' rostrum before addressingthe Board. Name: Phone:.J aed � Address: City: yYl V4 r Please note that ff you choose to provide your add ss and phone number, this information will become a public record of the Clerk of the Board in association with this meeting. am speaking for myself or organization: fi/t4441 r 44 V4 CHECK ONE: IIwish to speak on Agenda Item # - � - I Date:P 'i My comments will be: El General �' For El Against I wish to speak on the subject of: — �jf0� ' S El Ido not wish to speak but would like to leave these comments for the Board to consider: i Please see reverse for instructions and important information y i Dear Board of Supervisors and Staff: First of all, I would like to thank you for taking the time to review the current ordinance regarding the storage of motor homes, travel trailers and other recreational vehicles on residential propertyIn Contra Costa County. Ten years ago we moved to Alhambra Valley because of its natural scenery and wildlife. We gave up a beautiful old downtown Martinez home for the Valley ambiance. As long- time property owners in Contra Costa County we have always tried to be responsible neighbors by maintaining our residence in a manner that would increase the value of private property in our neighborhood. We know that ion the next 10 -15 years part of our retirement income will come from the equity in our home. Up until the last two years we made it a weekend ritual to enjoy coffee on our front porch while we enjoyed the natural scenery. Unfortunately, we now rarely use our front porch because of the view of the neighbor's various recreational vehicles including jet skis and utility carts - and up until just recently those were covered by blue tarps. We tried to be good neighbors and not complain about this issue, however, when a 36 foot long, 13.5 tall trailer arrived it was definitely the straw that broke the camels back,, In trying to discuss OB the storage issue with our neighbor we asked this question: What if every single house on Gordon Way and Milthwal't decided to turn their front yard into a recreational storage facility .? Would you want to pay over a million dollars to live in that kind of neighborhood? We certainly would not. It We appreciate the proposed revision in the i"nterpretati"on of adequately screened to include at least 90 percent of the vehicle mass. In our opinion, the current interpretation of a 6 foot fence does not make any sense in today's market of oversized trailers. oZ We would also like to ask that the county consider the following additional items: 1 ,, Should the ordinance require that recreational vehicles be screened from the view of an adjacent neighbor? In our neighborhood where houses are staggered in distance from the road, one side of a trailer may not be viewed from the public roadway but totally in view of a neighbor's main living space. In our personal situation we share a private road with one neighbor, and I believe we could park a large motor home in our back yard area and not have it screened at all based on the current wording. 2,, Should the ordinance state that screening may not ----- consist of tarps, tents, or other similar temporary, portable material? We were not clear on the def'init'ion of "intervening building mass" - a phrase used iOn the revised 3 ordinance. 3. Should the ordinance state that salad vehicles must be owned bV the owner or occupant of the lot? This would prevent neighbors from parking business owned vehicles in the neighborhood or adding additional vehicles owned by family and friends because they have space. 4. Lastly, should the County continue t-o monitor the overall issue of storing recreational vehicles on resladentioalropperty to see if additional lanquage is warranted preventing the storage of vehicles in front yards or limiting the number of vehicles on one site? Thank you. aT ar+ n Ae"z7 j ALHAMBRA VALLEY IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION Pmwene Hal oiwn, 22 WaKda Way, Martinez, CA 94553 July 19, 2005 Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors, 651 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553 RE: Motor homes and trailers in Alhambra Valley Dear Board Members: Recerrtly it has come to my attention that extraordinarily large motor homes are being parked in the front yards of homes in the Valley,. Not only motor homes, but other large trailers are being stored as well. As in all areas of Contra Costa County, the value of homes has risen tremendously,, With homes costing over a million dollars ion the half-acre section of the Valley, home owners have disposable income to afford these bus size motor homes, and they will only increase., The ordinance applying to placing a motor home behind a fence does not adequately cover the motor homes currently for sale. That regulation was written at a time when these bus size motor homes were not on the market 1 request that you support an up to date regulation that will solve the present problem. Sincerely, Hal Olson, President AVIA