Hi I have a comment on the article on RVs in front yards. I have
a motor home that we park in the side of our home.
“Hi I have a comment on the article on RVs in front yards. I have a motor home that we park in the side of our home. We contacted the city and found that trailers or motor homes are not breaking the law. City law says they can park their trailers in the side of homes as long as they are not parked in the lawn or perpendicular. They can be parked on gravel, rock or cement. I just wanted to let you know that people who have boats, trailers or RVs are not breaking the law.”
Red Phone: Dear Can Too, You are right. You don’t need to give up your motor home just yet; you just need to make sure it is not obtrusive.
“Zoning Ordinance Section 33.30 specifically prohibits the parking of an RV, boat or trailer on the lawn. However it may be stored in the front yard area provided that it complies with the guidelines contained in that section,” said Code Enforcement Officer Scott Barron.
“The section contains requirements such as that it must be stored on a paved, graveled or approved driveway material, ” he said. “The vehicle is to be parked perpendicularly to the front curb. No part of the vehicle can extend over the public sidewalk, and the vehicle must be parked at least three feet from side property lines. It cannot block access to or occupy any required parking spaces. Generally that means garage spaces. The code also has a provision that front yard parking is allowed only if the residence has no reasonable access for parking in the rear yard.”
So hope that answers your question, good caller.
Reason for illegal turns
“I read the article ‘Illegal left turns on First Street.’ My question is why was it made illegal to turn left coming out of the Nob Hill parking lot in the first place? It is the only parking lot on all of First Street to not allow a left hand turn. How about having the right-turn only repealed and let people get home without having to go through another traffic light to flip a U-turn.”
Red Phone: The reason for the turn being made illegal is the proximity to the traffic light at First Street and Wren Avenue, said City Engineer Don Dey.
“When we looked at it awhile back, we decided it would be a potential safety hazard with the congestion,” he said.
Dey pointed out that that is not the only exit to the shopping center. People have other options such as on the side of the shopping center on Wren Avenue.
Say what?
“Regarding the RV Red Phone, in my 40 some odd years of driving commercial vehicles across the state and nation, I have never encountered a vehicle anywhere that was 22 feet wide. Obviously this would cause a problem on someone’s front yard, but I have never seen one.”
Red Phone: Dear Country Driver, Yes we inadvertently had the width listed instead of the length. That would be one huge vehicle. Talk about a gas guzzler. But it would be something our government would be proud to have it does not already. The Gilroy Municipal Code defines an over-sized vehicle as 22 feet long, 7 feet high and 7 feet wide. Also the 48-hour time frame mentioned in the previous Red Phone applies to commercial vehicles parked in a residential area. Just trying to keep you on your toes.
