Fairgrounds proposed as temporary RV “safe lot”
Longmont City Council members directed city staff Tuesday night to meet with Boulder County staff about the possibility of temporarily using the Boulder County Fairgrounds as a site for people living in recreational vehicles, campers and motor homes to park their vehicles.
The fairgrounds at 9595 Nelson Road is property owned by the county and in an unincorporated area outside Longmont’s jurisdiction.
That directive will have city staff see whether Longmont staff can negotiate a possible agreement for temporary use of the fairgrounds as something of a “safe lot” for people to park their so- called “sleeper” vehicles — particularly occupants who are living in such vehicles because of fiscal constraints that have cost them, or have kept them, from getting into or back into conventional housing.
That motion from Councilwoman Marcia Martin about checking out the possible use of the fairgrounds for several months for such a purpose passed on a unanimous vote.
However, Council members split on a subsequent proposal from Councilwoman Joan Peck — one that would have staff impose a temporary moratorium on enforcing any current Longmont Land Development Code prohibitions or restrictions about converting other publicly or privately owned properties within the city into temporary RV safe lots.
Peck did not specify a possible site for such a temporary RV park but indicated that could provide an option for temporarily providing space for fiscally constrained RV, motor home and camper occupants while human services and government agencies work with those individuals and families to get them into “bridge” or more permanent housing.
Council members Polly Christensen, Aren Rodriguez and Susie HidalgoFahring voted to support Peck’s motion. Mayor Brian Bagley and Council members Marcia Martin and Tim Waters voted against it.
Longmont Community Services Department Director Karen Roney told Council that while the fairgrounds are currently closed to most activities and uses during the COVID- 19 coronavirus pandemic, RV and camper owners can dump their wastewater there.
City Manager Harold Dominguez said Boulder County Administrator Jana Petersen has indicated that the county might consider possibly allowing RVs to park there for about three to six months.
“It appears that that window is not permanently closed,” Roney told Council.
In a follow- up discussion, the County indicated it might consider the possibility of allowing RVs to temporarily park at this location for about 3 to 6 months, city staff reported.
However, city staff said there may have to be some rules and conditions involved, such as requiring people using the campground to go through a coordinated entry screening process that’s intended to help people transition into conventional housing — and for them to stay in that coordinated entry program once they’ve moved their vehicles to a safe lot.
In a separate study- session action, Council members directed staff to bring back — for an official vote at a future meeting — a proposed ordinance that would generally ban recreational vehicles, camper coaches, camper trailers and motor homes from parking on city streets, in alleys or on other public rights of way.
While the Council members could still amend that ordinance when it returns for their formal consideration, it would — in its current draft form — eliminate a provision in Longmont’s current city code that now allows sleeper vehicles to be parked on streets, as long as those vehicles are moved at least 600 feet every 48 hours.
City staff has recommended delaying the effective date of that revised RV parking restriction ordinance to Jan. 1, which staff wrote Council “would provide current RV dwellers at least three months to prepare for the upcoming ordinance, and make alternative living arrangements.”
Councilwoman Polly Christensen said Longmont needs a multi- pronged approach that the city “can’t have people in the middle of winter with no place to live” other than in such vehicles.