The Turlock Planning Commission will review the City's current regulations when it comes to parking recreational vehicles in residential districts on Thursday, and decide whether or not to move forward with possible changes.
The Planning Commission's look into RV parking follows a complaint made by a Turlock resident in October who said that he feels parking of recreational vehicles, boats and similar items in the front and corner side yards of Turlock residences is unsightly.
The City of Turlock Municipal Code currently allows recreational vehicles, trailers and boats to be parked in the side yard or rear yard setback of a residence, as long as it is not closer than four feet to any parcel line. Parking is permitted within the front yard or corner side yard when space is not available in the rear or side yard.
Temporary overnight sleeping is permitted within a recreational vehicle for a maximum of 14 days in one year, however, cooking is not permitted at any time. RVs can also be parked temporarily anywhere on a property, up to 72 hours, for loading and unloading.
City staff did some preliminary research and found that recreational vehicle parking standards vary greatly from city to city — ranging from not permitting them in the front or corner side yards at all to allowing them within all residential setbacks.
Changing the City of Turlock's regulations to where RVs could be parked would be a significant change in the Municipal Code, according to City staff, and would require residents who currently store these vehicles in side or front yards to find off-site storage.
On Thursday, the Planning Commission is also expected to:
— Consider approving a Conditional Use Permit for the operation of a bar at 128 S. Center St., formerly Al's Billiards. The proposed business, 39 Milestone, would be a bar that is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. and offer billiards, electronic darts, shuffleboard and live entertainment. 39 Milestone is also requesting to reconfigure the rear of the building to create an outdoor seating area that would be enclosed with a 6-foot tall wrought iron fence.
— Consider approving a variance to Maria Irma Salas to reduce the required five foot side yard setback requirement to two and half feet along the northwestern property line and a reduction in the 15 percent landscape requirement to 13 percent to facilitate the development of two offices at 779 E. Olive Ave.
The Planning Commission will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Yosemite Room at City Hall, 156 S. Broadway.
