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Napoleon resident challenges zoning notices over RV and Airbnb use
Summary
Resident Alan Meyer told the Napoleon City Council he received multiple zoning-violation notices related to an RV/bus conversion behind a Riverview property and said city citations lacked clear explanation. City staff granted a short extension and scheduled a meeting to clarify whether a conditional-use permit or other action is required.
Alan Meyer, a Napoleon resident, told the Napoleon City Council on June 16 that he has received multiple, unclear zoning-violation notices about an RV converted to a bus parked behind a property along the Maumee River.
Meyer said the first two notice letters pasted zoning code language without explaining specifically how his vehicle or its use violated the code. “I received 2 violation letters that have copied and pasted code with no explanation of how I have violated that code,” Meyer said. He said the notices cited sections that did not mention recreational vehicles or Airbnbs and that follow-up communication from staff was inconsistent.
The issue drew a response from Mayor Joe Balarucci and other city officials. Balarucci said he had helped Meyer obtain a short extension and recommended a meeting including the zoning administrator to clarify requirements. “I requested that I get an extension on having to move it, which they granted,” Meyer said of his conversation with the mayor.
City staff described the possible violations differently in the meeting. A staff member identified as Kevin explained that the site is in a C-4 zoning district, which limits allowed uses. “I did see the third [notice]. And my understanding is that you're parked in a C-4, which has very specific use, approved uses. Business must take place in a covered building… So that was a violation. Additionally, no storage of vehicles in the C-4,” Kevin said. He also said staff believed use of a bus to run an Airbnb would be a prohibited business use in that district.
Meyer said he had asked whether the RV could stay in place while an appeal or conditional-use application proceeded; he said staff at first told him they would follow up but later told him he needed to move it by the next Monday or face further violations and potential court action. Meyer said staff suggested storage facilities but that the city did not allow exceptions in his case. He added he planned to meet with the zoning administrator the following Monday to discuss options.
Council members and staff agreed to further review the notices and to bring the zoning administrator, the city manager and legal counsel into the discussion to clarify which code sections apply and whether a conditional-use permit is required. Billy, identified in the meeting as the law director, said he had not reviewed the matter yet but offered to look into it going forward.
The council did not take formal action on the matter during the meeting; staff scheduled a follow-up meeting between Meyer and the zoning administrator to pursue clarification.
