What do you think of the proposed change to ordinances on boats, boat trailers, and travel trailers in residential zones?

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Applicant

Community and Neighborhood Services Department

Project address

Citywide Application

Description 

The Community and Neighborhood Services Department requests an Ordinance Text Amendment to Provo City Code, Sections 14.06.020 and 14.34.060 to add a definition for "utility trailer" and provide clarification on the location of boats, boat trailers, and travel trailers in residential zones.

This will allow for an easier understanding of requirements within this section of code, as well as a more equitable enforcement on trailers throughout the city. Provo City Code currently does not specifically define "utility trailers" and does not regulate the location of utility trailers in residential zones. 

Section 14.34.060 of Provo City Code currently states: “Boats, boat trailers, or travel trailers may not be placed, kept, or maintained within the front yard areas of any residential (R) zones, except that such boats or trailers may be located anywhere on the lot, except in a clear vision zone of a corner lot as defined in Section 14.34.100, Provo City Code for a temporary period not to exceed twenty-four (24) hours for loading and unloading purposes, or for temporary storage not to exceed seven (7) days if such facility is owned by a bona fide guest of the occupants of the premises.”

This section of code is currently used by Code Compliance Officers to enforce on property owners for having boats, boat trailers and travel trailers parked in front yard areas of Residential Zones. When a property owner is enforced on for violating this section of code, a copy of this section is sent along with a Notice of Violation to the property owner. As written currently, this section can lead to confusion and misunderstanding as to what is and what is not allowed. As Officers are enforcing on properties, they generally look along the street to verify if additional properties are also in violation of the same section of code. They often find that, while some properties have trailers that fit this section of code and are enforceable violations of code (see Attachment 3), other nearby properties have trailers (see Attachment 5) that do not fit the definitions of any trailer mentioned in section 14.34.060. At times Officers have found one trailer that is enforceable and another trailer which is not enforceable located on the same lot and in similar locations (See Attachment 4). Including Utility Trailers in Section 14.34.060 along with the proposed definition (See Attachment 2) would allow for a more equitable enforcement of various trailers parked in front yard areas of Residential Zones.

Status

No neighborhood meeting was required for this project because of the exemption for applications filed by Provo City and the exemption for citywide applications. The Planning Commission hearing is scheduled for June 24, 2020. Unless it is continued by the Planning Commission, this will be heard by the City Council at their July 7 meeting.

Project Contacts

Planner - Scott Johnson, 801-852-6433, snjohnson@provo.org

Resources

Staff Report
Provo City Zoning Map
Provo City Code
 

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