Cloud Lake adopts ordinance banning camping on vacant lots, creates maintenance rules

The Cloud Lake Town Council on Jan. 8 adopted Ordinance No. 165, an amendment to Chapter 28 of the town zoning code that creates rules for vacant-lot maintenance and bars camping on vacant lots. The ordinance was read by title by Town Attorney William P. Doney and approved on a 4-0 vote with Council Member John Tyson absent.

The ordinance responds to reported illegal camping on a vacant parcel in town. Resident Virginia Standish raised a parcel-identification concern during the hearing, noting county records list her parcel as "unit A and unit B" because two water meters exist; the Town Attorney told the council the property is platted as a single parcel with one property control number. Attorney Doney also clarified the ordinance's effect on RV parking: RVs may not be parked on vacant lots; on developed lots they may be parked next to or behind a residence.

Council Member Alexandra Powell-Sardinas moved for adoption and Council Member Kathleen Hoock seconded; the motion passed 4-0. The ordinance was presented as the second and final reading. The town will implement the maintenance and camping rules through the zoning code amendment and enforcement mechanisms already used by the town's code-enforcement staff.

The adoption follows public concern about illegal camping and related maintenance issues. The town attorney's reading, the resident clarification about parcel identification, and the council vote together complete the formal adoption process. The council did not specify an effective date in the meeting minutes; implementation timing was not detailed in the transcript.