Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Ordinance Campers Rvs topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Whitehall council tables RV ordinance, narrows temporary-shelter rules to public property
Summary
The Whitehall Town Council on Feb. 18 tabled an ordinance that would regulate campers and RVs and amended a companion ordinance on temporary shelters to apply only to public property after public concerns about private-property impacts.
The Whitehall Town Council on Feb. 18 voted to table Ordinance 2024-5, which would have established permit requirements, time limits and penalties for the temporary living use of campers and recreational vehicles within town limits. The council also amended Ordinance 2024-6, which addresses temporary shelters, to specify the rule applies to public property.
Council member Bill Lanes, who moved to table Ordinance 2024-5, told colleagues he and others had concerns about longer stays, how extensions would be handled, the proper committee for oversight and the need for clearer definitions and private-property protections. Linda Jung read Lanes’ written notes during the public hearing. Lanes later moved the amendment to Ordinance 2024-6 so the measure would explicitly apply to public property; Roy McBride seconded and the amendment passed unanimously.
Public commenters urged the council not to regulate private property. Podrick Moriarty said he was worried the town could face homelessness problems similar to those in Bozeman and argued the rules should not cover private land. Sandy Kraha said the ordinance cast “a broad net” and should not include private-property regulation; Bridget Morse told the council she believed the proposals infringed on private-property rights and privacy. The public hearing record shows repeated requests that any ordinance limit municipal authority to public spaces and not private yards or driveways.
Bill Lanes’ motion to table Ordinance 2024-5 was seconded by Linda Jung and carried with no recorded opposition. The council did not adopt the RV/camper ordinance on Feb. 18; the amendment to Ordinance 2024-6 to limit coverage to public property was approved. The council did not specify an adoption timetable for either ordinance at the meeting.
The council’s action leaves the camper/RV ordinance unresolved and narrows the temporary-shelter draft to public-property enforcement. Council staff indicated more work and clearer drafting are expected before either measure returns for further consideration.
