Lynn Haven delays new RV parking ordinance after wide public pushback; attorney to draft narrower rewrite

The Lynn Haven City Commission on Tuesday postponed a final vote on a proposed amendment to the Unified Land Development Code that would revise where residents may store “major recreational equipment” such as RVs, campers and boats, directing the city attorney to prepare a narrower rewrite for a future meeting.

The ordinance under discussion, listed in the meeting materials as Ordinance 11-77, would have changed how many and where major recreational equipment items could be parked on residential lots. Commissioners and dozens of residents debated safety, property rights and code-enforcement capacity for more than two hours before the commission decided not to adopt the proposal and instead asked staff to return with a new draft labeled 11-77R.

Supporters of keeping tighter restrictions — including Commissioner Vandegrift, who introduced an amendment limiting counts and removing storage on vacant lots — said sight-line safety and neighborhood appearance were the chief concerns. Opponents, including many residents who addressed the commission during public comment, said the proposed rules were too broad, would be intrusive and would create enforcement headaches for code officers already stretched thin.

Public speakers urged a simpler approach. Resident Corey Langford told commissioners: "Keep it simple stupid. Allow parking in the side yard and the driveway, and keep it out of the right of way." Several others echoed that message, saying Lynn Haven is a boating and camping community and objecting to limits that would effectively cap how many boats or trailers a household can keep on site.

Commissioners debated several options in the wording: limiting the definition to campers, motor homes and RVs while excluding jet skis and kayaks; permitting parking on the driveway but prohibiting any encroachment into the public right-of-way; and whether to allow one or multiple vehicles in side yards or front driveways. Commissioner Ward and others favored allowing driveway and side-yard parking so long as vehicles did not extend into the public right-of-way; Commissioner Vandegrift said she preferred backing the current code’s backyard-only approach unless the commission agreed on specific limits.

City Attorney Amanda Bale told the commission she would prepare a revised ordinance based on the discussion. "I can prepare a brand new ordinance ... and bring that ordinance back for first reading at one of your next meetings," she said, adding that the new draft would explicitly allow driveway parking outside the public right-of-way and could be adjusted to add side-yard provisions if the commission directs it.

The commission did not vote to adopt Ordinance 11-77. Instead, members approved a direction to staff to draft a revised ordinance (11-77R) that will: clarify which vehicle types are covered (suggested: RVs, campers, motor homes), allow vehicles on driveways so long as they do not encroach on the public right-of-way, and return with recommended buffer/visibility language for safety review. The attorney said she would return with a proposed first-reading draft for a future meeting.

The discussion drew robust public comment — roughly two dozen speakers — and highlighted tensions between residents who said storing recreational equipment is a personal property right and others who worry about traffic visibility and enforcement burdens. Commissioners said the rewrite will aim to balance those concerns and to provide clearer rules for code enforcement.

Next steps: the city attorney will draft 11-77R for first reading at a forthcoming commission meeting; no effective code change took effect Tuesday. The commission signaled it wants clear language about the public right-of-way and operability, and whether side-yard storage will be permitted or limited by lot size will be considered in the draft.