Near-permanent residency now allowed at Boulder City RV park

By Tiffany Gibson

Thursday, Oct. 29, 2009 | 2:05 a.m.

Linda Strickland

Duncan McCoy

Cam Walker

The Boulder City Council on Tuesday amended an ordinance that doesn’t allow lot owners at the Boulder Oaks RV resort to stay more than 180 consecutive days a year, now requiring them to leave for just one day.

Community members of the recreational vehicle resort attended the meeting to voice concerns about the ordinance that has been a concern for residents since it took effect in February 1987.

Attorney Michael Lemcool, speaking on behalf of Boulder Oaks members, said they shouldn’t be required to leave a lot they pay taxes on.

“Boulder Oaks RV resort is individually owned lots,” Lemcool said. “The city needs to change the zoning code.”

Other residents didn’t understand why the City Council wanted to enforce an ordinance that has been ignored for years.

“What’s the benefit or motive behind it?” resident Dave Bruce asked. “We are a tight-knit community.”

City Attorney Dave Olsen said the City Council could draft another ordinance or amend the one already in place, but “the longer we wait, we’re less likely to enforce” the current ordinance.

A motion was passed last night to amend the ordinance in favor of the residents.

Council member Linda Strickland said residents would only have to leave the park for one day to be in compliance with limitation that now allows only a stay of 180 consecutive days in each 360-day period.

She also proposed that council members consider drafting another ordinance to distinguish Boulder Oaks from another RV park, Canyon Trails, where people rent lots.

Members of the council agreed with Strickland, except for council member Cam Walker, who asked how authorities would know if residents were in compliance with the ordinance.

During discussions, council member Duncan McCoy suggested a logbook be kept and checked by authorities on May 20 of every year to make sure each resident has not exceeded his or her stay of 180 days.

“We should inspect RV logs annually and issue appropriate citations,” he said. “No recreational vehicle can be used for business purposes, and a resident’s stay must not exceed 180 days.”

Even though McCoy’s motion was killed, a similar motion was passed for authorities to check logbooks and make sure residents left the lot for at least one day per year.