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Kenai council sends tent camping, RV issues to Planning and Zoning for study
Summary
Council directed the Planning and Zoning Commission to study tent camping and recreational vehicle regulations after staff reported residents complained about multiple tents on residential lots and code gaps for tent camping.
The Kenai City Council on Oct. 1 directed the Planning and Zoning Commission to study tent camping and recreational-vehicle (RV) regulations and hold public hearings as needed, after staff described complaints about multiple tents on residential lots.
"We did experience something that was new ... we had citizens complain regarding tent camping that was going on in some of our residential subdivisions," City Manager Kevin Eubank told the council, describing a lot with multiple tents. He said staff review found "very little in code regarding tent camping," and that RVs and campers are addressed more extensively in the Kenai Municipal Code.
Eubank said the most significant existing requirement for temporary camping is provision of adequate sanitation, and that in the reported case "they did provide porta potties," so staff determined there was little enforcement leverage under current code. Planning Director Butner prepared the summary analysis included in the council packet, the manager said.
Council member Douthat proposed amending the motion to add recreational vehicles to the scope for Planning and Zoning to review; he said he wanted the commission to "also look over those and see if there's any antiquated possibilities that we should be looking at and updating or modifying anything to do with RVs." The amendment was made, seconded, and the council approved the amended referral by unanimous consent.
Council and staff described the referral as an information-gathering step: Planning and Zoning will hold public hearings, solicit community input and may recommend code amendments to the council if it finds changes are warranted. No ordinance or code change was adopted at the meeting; the action was a direction to the commission to explore and report back.
Ending: The council set no firm deadline for Planning and Zoning’s review during the meeting; staff said the commission will schedule hearings and outreach and return recommendations to the council if appropriate.
