Mount Vernon City Council modified its vehicle storage ordinance during its April 27 meeting to make it clear unregistered RVs and trailers and those that are not maintained cannot be stored on driveways or in side yards.
The updated ordinance aims to address concerns about the condition and placement of campers, boats, and trailers on residential properties. The council said the changes were necessary due to ongoing issues with neglected vehicles and people living in campers on private property.
“This is stemming from the type of camper and boats that are beyond like repair I call I say they’re melting into the earth. They’re up to their axle,” said City Inspector Scott Zimmerman, according to a video recording of the meeting. According to the video recording, Zimmerman said another problem reported to the city is with people living in their campers. He said several times over the last year homeless people moved into campers on people’s property. Some of them were parked on front yards and others in backyards. Every time turned into a bad situation, he said. Zimmerman said the city had to physical remove a camper on East Pleasant Street recently that was in disrepair.
According to the video recording, Assistant City Inspector Brian Marvin said the ordinance modifications allow campers in good repair and condition and well maintained enclosed utility trailers to be stored in driveways. Open bed trailers such as brush or trash hauler type trailers must be kept at the rear of the property. Marvin also addressed parking practices: “some people parked their trucks and trailers in the front yard. Existing language in the ordinance does not allow them to roll a trailer off into the grass. Instead they must put down some kind of improved surface before they park their vehicle on the lawn.” An approval through zoning for an offshoot of a drive for side parking was made part of previous modifications.
According to the video recording, Marvin said everything was applicable to motorized vehicles under the ordinance, but previously “the city had ‘absolutely zero teeth to clean up broken down trailers.'” The new modifications put trailers under enforcement rules similar to other vehicles. Owners found out of compliance will now have 10 days—up from five—to correct violations.
