Zoning issue explored

Property owners want code to include recreational vehicles

By Sam Shawver, sshawver@mariettatimes.com
Marietta City Council’s planning, zoning, annexation and housing committee on Wednesday continued to explore the possibility of allowing property owners to establish recreational vehicle parks in districts zoned for C-3 commercial use.

“I wanted water and sewer service established on my property so I could park four RVs on the lot, but I was told RVs are not addressed in the city code,” Debbie Scott, who owns property at 205 S. Fifth St., told the committee members.

Scott said she had asked the previous City Council to address the issue, but nothing has been done.

“And this year RV parking will not be allowed under the (Williamstown) bridge during festivals, and RV owners will need someplace to park their vehicles during the Sternwheel Festival,” she added.

Clyde Huddleston, owner of Huddleston Enterprises Inc., an RV business on South Seventh Street, has also been seeking permission to lease lots to four RVs on property he owns at the intersection of Charles and Seventh streets.

Scott and Huddleston said they’re paying taxes on the land they own in the south side flood plain, but they’re unable to build permanent structures or locate mobile homes on the property due to flood plain regulations established after the September 2004 flood.

Both owners say RV parks would allow them to earn money from their properties, but would not violate flood plain regulations because an RV could only park on a lot for 180 days, and if flooding occurs the vehicles could be moved quickly.

Councilman David White, R-1st Ward, favors adding an RV component to the C-3 zoning code.

“I’m a strong proponent of allowing people to do what they want with their land, as long as it’s not detrimental to the city,” he said. “We could put in rules for RVs mirroring state regulations for our C-3 zones and set standards to keep those areas clean and well maintained.”

Harry Barengo, representing the HarBar Landing Condominium Association, said he understood the property owners’ problem, but the association had some concerns about the number of RV parks that could result from a zoning law change.

“We have no issue with Mr. Huddleston using his land, but we’re concerned about proliferation,” he said. “There are seven vacant lots next to our property, and if C-3 zones were opened to RVs, we believe it would open a proliferation issue as more property owners would want to put in RV parks.”

The committee members agreed to pursue adding RV regulations to the C-3 zoning code. Committee Chairman Harley Noland, D-at large, suggested looking at state and federal state park RV regulations to help determine what rules the city should put in place.

Discussion of the proposal will continue at the committee’s next session.