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Kenilworth pauses proposed RV-parking rule after residents raise safety and enforcement concerns
Summary
The council introduced an amendment to zoning rules governing RV parking and size limits but, after lengthy public comment about sightlines, alleged sewer dumping and enforcement, voted to reconsider and table the ordinance so staff can revise language and research other towns’ approaches.
Council members introduced ordinance 2026-01 to amend Chapter 120 (outdoor storage) and clarify where and how recreational vehicles may be parked in residential zones. The ordinance as introduced would allow larger vehicles when parked in a defined "permitted parking space," set size limits, and add clarifying language about where vehicles may not extend into sidewalks or right-of-way.
The measure drew a sustained public comment period focused on a large recreational vehicle parked on Park Drive. Resident Terry McConnell said the vehicle exceeds the ordinance’s existing length and height limits, blocks sight lines for children and drivers, and that the law already on the books should be enforced rather than relaxed. "This ordinance benefits fewer people than it helps," McConnell said, urging the council not to change the current rules.
Other residents detailed near-miss incidents and a long-term local concern about the placement of oversized vehicles on small residential lots. Barry Johnson, a longtime resident, told the council the vehicle posed a safety hazard and said he had observed it in place for months. Another resident raised an allegation that the RV’s owner had been emptying waste into the sewer system; the council asked the police chief and borough attorney to investigate and report back.
Council discussion focused on technical drafting issues: what constitutes a "permitted parking space," how to treat homes without sidewalks, whether to set a minimum setback from the curb when sidewalks are absent, and a proposed maximum height. Several council members suggested lowering the proposed height limit from 15 feet to 13 feet and adding a setback requirement in locations without sidewalks. The borough attorney agreed to research how other municipalities regulate residential RV parking and bring suggested edits back to the governing body.
Outcome: after public comment and debate the council voted to reconsider the ordinance and then to table it to permit staff to refine the language and compare approaches used by other towns. Council members also agreed to withhold code-enforcement actions under this ordinance while revisions are underway; the separate allegation about sewer dumping will be investigated immediately.
What happens next: the attorney will report findings and draft revisions for council review; a new public notice and planning-board review may follow before the item returns for final action.
