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Code officer flags American Legion RV request and urges review of RV/ADU rules
Summary
The code enforcement officer told the planning board the American Legion seeks to place an RV on its property to house a veteran for several months; current town rules allow up to three months of RV use per calendar year and an extension or ordinance change would be required for the requested mid-October-through-April stay.
The code enforcement officer informed the Lisbon Planning Board on June 25 that the American Legion has proposed placing a recreational vehicle on its property to house a homeless veteran for an extended season. Under the town’s current ordinance the code officer may approve RV use on private property for up to three months per calendar year; the applicant’s requested period—roughly mid-October through about April 15—would exceed that allowance.
The code enforcement officer said there is an allowance for extensions but that the current request may require revisiting the ordinance or adopting a renewal provision tailored for humanitarian uses. He suggested the board consider whether the code officer should have clearer authority to grant limited extensions or whether the town should create a targeted amendment to allow RVs in specific circumstances.
Board members discussed related zoning issues and whether accessory dwelling units on nonresidential properties could be an alternative; members noted that state law changes around ADUs and commercial-to-residential allowances may also affect options. The board agreed to research comparable local policies and revisit possible code adjustments at a future meeting.
Next steps: planning staff will review existing ordinance language on RV stays and extension procedures, compare examples used by nearby communities, and return with options for a focused discussion.
