By Sarah Wells
Seeing RVs parked at residential homes in Grand Terrace, Calif., is not uncommon. The city’s town council was seeking to restrict parking such vehicles at residences, but the discussion was tabled to a later date when lawmakers realized there was a lack of RV and boat storage facilities in the area to accommodate residents’ needs.
The Grand Terrace City Council Meeting on June 27, 2023, and had item H on the agenda, a REQUEST FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS BY CITY COUNCIL H1 Ordinance Banning Recreational Vehicles Parked on Driveways, Including Load Trailers and Boats Within 13 Months, Allowing Residents to Secure Parking Storage.
The item was requested by Council Member Sylvia Rodriguez-Robles.
Rodriguez-Robles opened with, “I need to amend my request because there’s no way anybody can comply with this in 13 months because I looked and there is no capacity anywhere right now. The thing is, we’re elected to consider everybody’s property rights and preserve the residential character of the neighborhood and the property value, so I think we need to study and determine what rules are currently in place and possibly have a public education part.
“My request is to study the issue,” continued Rodriguez-Robles. “And during our deliberations, we will come up with something, or nothing, and the public will be advised of any future ordinance.”
Council chambers were filled with residents. There were over 15 public comments from sent-in letters, attendees over Zoom, and in-person comments for the item.
A resident of Grand Terrace for over 25 years, Scott Meinert, stated during public comment, “The ability not to have our RV storage will depreciate our home values. We do not live in a homeowner’s association with limited property rights .… I love Grand Terrace, I’ve been active in this community, but my voice will not be silenced in this. Do not take our property rights away.”
Many more public comments aligned with Meinert’s sentiments.
Ultimately, the item failed to pass for further discussion and will no longer be considered by the Council.
For more information regarding the current law and regulations for recreational vehicles within the City of Grand Terrace, go to library.municode.com/ca/grand_terrace.
Sarah Wells is a community writer for City News Group, serving numerous locations in California.
