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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08292017 Planning & Zoning Work Session - Public Comments August 29, 2017 comments submitted by Carol Griswold Ordinance 2017-12 Camping Uses, Definitions, and Requirements P 7 Title 8.15 Trailers, Mobile Home Parks, Camper Parks, and Camping Article 5 and 6, pertaining to Camping(generalIy and on privately owned lots) and Employee Campgrounds were revised and moved to Title 15.10.225 under Planning Land use Regulations as they are not associated with camping for a fee (municipal or private.) p. 7 Title 15.10 Seward Zoning Code line 5: typo "guest's " should be "guests" p 9-10 2.25.065 Harbor Department—Powers and duties. The harbor department shall: (4) Provide for the operation, management, and enforcement of parking in parking lots and street parking in the Harbor area. P10 2.25.125 Parks and Recreation Department---Powers and duties. No mention of managing parking lots around harbor. This does not fit in with the mission of Parks and Recreation. Should more logically be managed by the Harbor under 2.25.065 as these are harbor and harbor area users. Providing this service at the Harbormaster's Office would also eliminate the non-ADA compliant parking office. The Seward Parks & Recreation Department facilitates recreational, educational, social and cultural activities for the community and visitors. The department staff is professionally committed to protecting, improving and promoting City of Seward park lands and natural resources. The department strives to improve the quality of life, the physical and mental well being of individuals through positive opportunities and choices. Our goal is to provide "Mountains of Recreation° to all residents and visitors to Seward, Alaska, P 10-11 7.15.010 Camping, municipal. (a) No camping, other than as specified in section 15.10.225 shall be allowed in City limits except in areas designated as municipal campgrounds by 1 resolution of the city council or in private camper parks operating under a permit. This Land Uses Allowed Table is referenced in 15.10.225 but is currently buried under "15.25 Floodplains. "It is so important, it deserves its own new section, 15.10.226. Change this under 15.10.225, Land uses allowed (a) Table, 15.10.225 (See tables in section 15.10.226)... and anywhere else the Land Uses Allowed Table is referenced in the Code.) (b) In no event shall camping by one party be allowed for more than 14 consecutive days in one municipal campground for a maximum of 28 days except as noted in (e). Tents ^Y s+r.,4+ s of plastie sheeting, eanvas, e Clarify 14-day maximum in one municipal campground. Is there an overall limit to how long one can camp in municipal campgrounds? The city Campgrounds website implies a total of 4 weeks, which I think is plenty. Make room for recreational campers. Move passes to (c) below. 5.How long can I stay in one spot/space? A 14-day stay limit is the maximum stay, according to City of Seward Code. You may move to another section (with a different campground name) for an additional two weeks if you choose. Is Waterfront Park one campground? Or is each unit considered separately? How is this enforced? (c) Disabled and/or senior citizens age 62 and over may camp for extended periods of time provided that they first obtain a special permit and monthly _ pass from Ci'ty Park sand Recreation Department. Monthly passe shall be issued Vm1y to these •y .iluals-pod . o;peei l permit ■ssa d- by the City PaFks and_Ieer-eatio Department. Tents or structures of plastic sheeting, canvas, or similar materials are not eligible for monthly passes or special permits. Why? Is the purpose of our municipal campgrounds to be a long-term trailer park? 2 Do they too need to move every 14 days to a different campground? How is this enforced? Do they pay for each space ie camper unit and extra vehicle/boat etc? Are both a special permit and monthly pass needed? Why? What is the difference between them? (d) Camping in municipal campgrounds shall be allowed between April 15 and September 30 each year, provided, however that the Parks and Recreation Director may modify the opening of municipal campgrounds until sueh time as staffing and weather conditions permit sueh use. Why City Manager instead of Parks and Rec Director? Too restrictive language, sometimes spring comes early and fall lingers late. Change "delay" to "modify. " Concentrating camping in the winter Iditarod Campground before and after the normal season is an excellent idea as staff is limited offseason. P11 (d) continued ...Exeept for-these areas opened fef eamping by feselution of the eeuneil of state in subseetion /e t below, y April y y V Ulll lllllg IJ �,1111 V112 , Q' Z[VL O rl , This is covered in (e) (e)Winter camping shall be permitted at the Iditarod municipal campground located at the south end of Waterfront Park. Winter camping shall not be allowed in any other municipal campgrounds unless specifically authorized by resolution of the City Council. (0 Person camping in violation of the section are subject to citation, eviction and/or impoundment by authorized personnel... Who are "authorized personnel" and how will this be enforced? (g) Whenever a violation of this chapter governing municipal camping occurs, any person may file a complaint with the city clerk. All such complaints shall be properly recorded and immediately investigated by the appropriate city official who shall report his finding to the city manager. 3 7.15.020 Municipal campgrounds, registration and permits. ...For the purposes of this chapter, camping is defined as occupying a camping unit. (change parking to occupying) Who are "authorized personnel" and how are registration and payment of fee violations enforced? p 11 Chapter 8.15 Trailers, Mobile Home Parks, Camper Parks and Camping p 11 Chapter 8.15 Mobile Home Parks and Camper Parks Why are trailers and camping in this title? Article 1. General Provisions 8,15.110 Definitions Refer to 15.10.140 Definitions Keep all the definitions together. p 12 Definitions continued Addition: An accessory, enclosed structure of conventional construction, or a manufactured home unit, attached and appuFtenane to a mobile home. "Appurtenance" is a noun and its use in this sentence does not make sense. Delete "appurtenance" and use "accessory" or "auxiliary" or "secondary" noun 1. an accessory or other item associated with a particular activity or style of living. "all the appurtenances of luxurious travel" synonyms:accessories, trappings,appendages,accoutrements,equipment,paraphernalia, impedimenta,bits and pieces,things; inforntalstuff "artist's studio with appurtenances for rent" 1 . appurtenances plural : accessory objects the appurtenances of wealth 2. law : an incidental right (such as a right-of-way) attached to a principal property right and passing in possession with it 3. a subordinate part or adjunct The appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony. — William Shakespeare p 12 Definitions continued Recreational vehicle: 4 A vehicle used or intended for short-term occupancy as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreation, and vacation uses which may be driven, towed, or propelled from one location to another without change in structure or design, whether or not... Includes travel trailers, camping trailers, tent campers, trailer coaches, motor homes, truck campers, buses, and similar vehicles. Travel trailer: A vehicular portable structure which is not self-propelled, designed for short-term occupancy as a temporary dwelling for travel, recreational and vacation uses. Delete this definition. Why define this and not the other types of recreational vehicles? P 12-13 S.15.115 Location (a) Mobile home parks and camper parks and ompleyee eamp, ratings require a conditional use permit and administrative permit and are eens defea permitted- allowed uses per the Land Uses Allowed Table in Title 15.26 with a conditional use permit and administrative permit provided they are approved by the Seward Planning and Zoning Commission after a public hearing. Nothing in this chapter addresses employee campgrounds specifically. Employee campgrounds were moved under Title 15.10.225 under Planning Laud use Regulations. When: is an administrative permit required and when is a conditional use permit required? The Land Uses Allowed Table just notes C/P. P12 8.15.125 Enforcement of chapter; violations and penalties. (a) This chapter ge-,�eming mobile home paFks and eampef pa4cs shall be enTefeed by the eity building i-nspeeter-, fire-,.�,�d eity elegy (a) Whenever a violation of this chapter governing mobile home parks and camper parks occurs, any person may file a complaint with the city clerk. All such complaints shall be properly recorded and immediately investigated by the appropriate city official who shall report his finding to the city manager. 5 P14 8.15.140 Fire prevention (a) Every mobile home park or camper park shall be equipped with a 15 pound multi-purpose dry chemical/ABC fire extinguisher that is inspected and certified annually and has a current tag in place. (b) To minimize the possibility of interference with escape or emergency responders in case of fire or other emergencies, the permittee shall prohibit the parking of vehicles closer than five feet from the door of any service building, convenience establishment, mobile home, or recreational vehicle. (d) Containers for fuel such as propane and fuel oil to be used by mobile home, travel trailer or camper occupants shall be connected in a leak-proof manner to the stoves or heaters by copper or other metallic tubing approved by the fire department or c^"stf"ae '^-' building inspector. Fuel oil containers for mobile homes shall be securely fastened in place not less than five feet from any exit and at least two feet from the body of the mobile home or addition thereto, as approved by the fire department or building inspector. or feefeational vehicle. Recreational vehicles normally have their propane tanks (and gas tanks) attached directly to the body of the vehicle, not two feet away. This is not feasible. P 14 continued 8.15.145 Recreational vehicles and mobile homes outside of parks Parks and Mobile Home Parks. (a) No r©er-eatie fia .,oh iele mobile home, other than an uninhabited two- wheel trailer not to exceed twenty feet in length, may be stored on a private lot in residential districts, exec t in a subdivision of d&yel^�.meat .. here yy v�wv vr� aaa u .�uvv1 r aJlvii Vi uVY"LIV17 speeial feneed in eemmen aFea has been set aside for-the storage e ly . This code was written back in the 1970s. Now, huge RVs are as common as boats and residents do not want to spend money to store them off-site, as evidenced by all the R Vs in residential neighborhoods. 6 Isn't there already something in the Code that requires storage behind the dwelling in residential zones? P 14 8.15.145 Recreational vehicles and mobile homes outside of parks continued (b) On a construction project, a mobile home or recreational vehicle may be used for temporary living or work space at the project site for a period of not to exceed 90 days if a letter application for this use is submitted by the owner or manager of the project, site or property and ' a permit is issued by the city eonstmeti^n building inspector. This permit must be posted on site in a conspicuous location. P 15 Article 2 Permits 8.15.210 Mobile home park and camper park annual permit required. (b) The permit shall be issued by the city clerk after investigation and inspection by the city eonstrueti vy building inspector and fire chief. 8.15.215 Initial Permit (a) (1) The name and physical address of the mobile home park or camper park; (2) The name and mailing address of the applicant, indicating whether operator or owner; (3) The name and mailing address of the owner if different from the applicant. P 16 8.15.445 Prohibitions generally (b) No vehicle in a camper park may be rendered immobile except by the unhitching of a separate towing vehicle, if any. Recreational vehicles may be temporarily tied down only as required for the safety of the vehicle and the area. Removal of wheels, addition of skirting, attachment of structures, building additions or foundations or any other act evidencing permanency of occupancy shall not be permitted. "Building"does not make sense. Is "addition" what is ineant? 7 P 16 continued 8.15.450 Registration required The owner or operator of a camper park shall maintain a register containing the name and mailing address of each person occupying the park... p19 15.10.225 Land Uses Allowed (a) Table 15.10.225 15.10.226 Land Uses Allowed, is incorporated herein by reference and the restrictions contained therein are mandatory unless otherwise modified by this chapter. (See tables at end of this title.) (i) Camping is allowed subject to the following: (1) No Camping for a fee shall be allowed within the city limits exeept only in municipal campgrounds as defined in section 7.15, or in private camper parks operating under a permit, as defined in section 8.15. (i)(2) Other than permitted camper parks, camping on privately owned lots as an accessory use to an occupied, single family home is limited to private non-commercial use and for no fee. Such occupancy shall be limited to one camping unit and shall be for recreational or vacationing purposes only. Camping as provided in this section shall not exceed 14 days per calendar year. Whenever a violation of this section occurs, any person may file a complaint with the city clerk. All such complaints shall be properly recorded and immediately investigated by the appropriate city official who shall report his finding to the city manager. P 20 0) Employee Campgrounds are allowed in accordance with Table 15.10.226 of this chapter. (1) can the city manager make this determination or does it have to go through the much more lengthy process of city council resolution? (5) Recreational vehicles are no longer allowed, at least at Icicle Seafoods after November 2017. Only tents and Conexes are allowed. No fuel, heat, fire,flame are allowed in the current RVs or current and continuing tents as per the fire chief. This should be noted. I would like to see the phasing out of tents for employee campgrounds as they are unsafe, insecure, unhealthy, and unsuitable for long-term occupancy. Tents are substandard housing. Conexes at least provide a lockable door, secure walls/roof, electricity, and heat. Bunkhouses such as those provided for Windsong Lodge, Kenai Fjords Tours, and Major Marine are much preferred and should be required. P 20 Table 15.10.226 Land Uses Allowed continued Campground, camper park Delete AC, HC. These uses do not belong in our Auto Commercial or Harbor Commercial Zones. Is this a good use of Institutional Zones? Consider deleting. 9