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Resident urges council to rescind April changes to RV-storage rules after safety and neighborhood concerns
Summary
A resident urged the city to reverse motions taken April 6 that relaxed RV, trailer and boat storage limits, arguing the change harms neighbors and property values; council members and the fire marshal flagged potential fire‑spread risks from removing separation requirements.
A Battleground resident urged the city council on April 26 to rescind recent changes to municipal policy on storing recreational vehicles, trailers and boats in residential neighborhoods, saying the April 6 motions effectively "gutted" the intended restrictions and could widen disparities between HOA and non‑HOA areas.
Gary Obermeyer told the council he had followed the topic since January and praised staff for a deliberate process; he said the April 6 votes, which accepted the language change that uses the word "any," signaled indifference to how property appearance affects neighbors. "By a 5 to 1 vote, the council disrespected and ignored the common work of staff and the police chief," Obermeyer said, urging the council to return to the study process.
During council communications, Council member Shane Bowman read a letter from the city's fire marshal warning that removing minimum separation distances "introduces conditions that can increase the potential for fire spread." The letter noted RVs and travel trailers commonly include propane systems, fuel sources and electrical components that can contribute to rapid fire growth when units are placed in close proximity; the marshal described separation distances as a key tool for reducing structure exposure.
Bowman suggested a possible compromise: allow RV storage but limit it to vehicles licensed to the residential property owner to prevent informal subleasing of private lots as low‑cost storage sites. He said the council should consult the fire marshal and other professionals before making ordinance changes that could create broader safety and liability issues.
No final action was taken at the meeting. The item stems from a code discussion and motions in the prior meeting; staff and council members indicated they would revisit the topic with input from fire officials and provide additional information to the council before any ordinance adoption.
Next steps: council members asked staff to circulate the fire marshal letter to the full council and for staff to prepare options — including possible owner‑licensed restrictions — for future council consideration.
