RV parking ban planned for streets west of I-5

An ordinance to ban recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers from parking overnight on public streets west of I-5 is in the works, said Michael Patton, representative for District 2 city councilmember Kevin Faulconer, at the monthly meeting of the Ocean Beach Planning Board March 6.

The matter will come before the council's Land Use and Housing Committee on March 27 for consideration and possible advancement to the full council, Patton said.

Though the ordinance is still in draft form, Patton shared two other tentative features: homeowners could purchase a 72-hour permit to park in front of their own property to allow temporary uses such as packing for a vacation; and a 24-hour ban would apply at intersections where an oversized vehicle could hinder drivers’ eyesight.

Faulconer, who represents much of city's beach areas, has promoted the ordinance for several years to combat complaints about the vehicles being an eyesore and used as living quarters.

Jane Gawronski, who chairs the planning board, said she worried that applying the ban so sparingly could shift the associated parking problems to Clairemont and other areas east of I-5. “Our neighbors are not going to like that,” she said.

But Patton said the ordinance was intended to be launched as a pilot program and the council would likely expand it citywide if successful.