The county Board of Supervisors gave preliminary approval Tuesday to an ordinance expanding the list of unincorporated areas where so-called “nonconforming vehicles” — such as RVs — would be barred from parking on county streets.
The ordinance defines a nonconforming vehicle as those that exceed 8 feet in width, 7 1/2 feet in height or 20 feet in length.
Current county law bars such vehicles from being parked on streets in unincorporated areas in or near Ladera Heights, View Park/Windsor Hills, Altadena, Long Beach, South Whittier/East Whittier/East La Mirada, West Whittier/Los Nietos, and Whittier. Such parking is also barred during overnight hours in Marina del Rey without a permit.
Under the extension given tentative approval by the board Tuesday, the restriction would be extended to unincorporated areas around Azusa/Charter Oak/Covina, Del Aire/Lennox, East Los Angeles, East Rancho Dominguez, El Camino Village, Florence-Firestone/Walnut Park, Hawthorne, Rancho Dominguez, West Athens/Westmont, West Carson, West Los Angeles, West Puente Valley/Valinda/South San Jose Hills, and West Rancho Dominguez/Willowbrook.
“The residents in these additional areas have expressed concerns that nonconforming vehicles are parked on county roadways for extended periods of time and that the continuous presence of these nonconforming vehicles impact visibility at driveways and intersections, reduce availability of on-street parking for residents, and cause visual blight,” county Public Works Director Mark Pestrella wrote in a letter to the board in support of the ordinance.
The ordinance would provide exemptions for vehicles being used for construction, maintenance or “other services to residents,” Pestrella wrote.
Owners of nonconforming vehicles will also be able to obtain as many as 30 one-day parking permits during a calendar year.
The board approved the ordinance on a 4-0 vote, with Supervisor Kathryn Barger absent. The ordinance is expected to return to the board for a final vote next week.
Several residents spoke in favor of the ordinance during Tuesday’s meeting, complaining that such vehicles are not only a visual blight but also the source of crime and other activity, while discouraging people from visiting nearby businesses.