Council keeps ban on camping on vacant lots; staff to propose hookup requirements for construction RVs

The Brian Head Town Council on Aug. 11 declined to loosen the town's ban on camping on vacant residential lots, affirming a Planning Commission recommendation to maintain the current rule.

Greg Sant, the town's Planning & Building Administrator, told the Council the existing code allows a single RV or camper only during active construction and only between April 30 and Nov. 1. The Planning Commission had reviewed public input and recommended the prohibition remain in place. The Council did not direct any change to the general camping ordinance.

Council discussion cited enforcement and public-health concerns from a prior period when camping had been allowed; Council Member Duane Nyen noted previous incidents of illegal sewage dumping when camping was permitted. Council Member Larry Freeberg said any future allowance should require utility hookups, including sewer and power, to prevent on-the-ground waste disposal. Council Member Martin Tidwell and Council Member Nyen both expressed comfort keeping the status quo.

Two residents spoke during public comment. Cecile Wallis proposed allowing controlled, temporary camping on private lots if trailers were self-contained, the Town provided a dump station, and a visible date-tracking window sticker system modeled on a parks-department program were used. Former Council Member Linda Ames strongly opposed any expansion—especially in R-1 zones—citing concerns about generator noise, waste disposal and property values; she asked the Council to consider time limits on RV presence even during construction. Applicant Dave Mason, whose written submission the Planning Commission had received, said utilities to his lot had been severed before his proposed development and he had been using a temporary structure while awaiting restoration of service.

Greg Sant confirmed the Town enforces the construction-period RV requirement (inspections every six months under the International Residential Code) and that the current code does not yet specify hookup requirements for construction-period RVs. He said he would draft proposed amendments addressing hookups and time limits and bring them back to the Planning Commission for recommendation.

Next steps: staff will prepare narrower amendments on hookup requirements and time limits for RVs used during active construction and return those proposals to the Planning Commission before Council consideration.