Cold Lake Council Passes RV Parking Guidelines

Recreational vehicle and trailer measures passed

Parking measures for recreational vehicles (RVs) and trailers have been outlined and passed by City Council after a lot of community feedback on the original proposal earlier this year.

“I think council should be proud of the work they did to amend the Land Use Bylaw,” said Mayor Craig Copeland. “It took a lot of time to come up with compromises that should work for the majority of the community.”

Changes were made to the Land Use Bylaw to add details about the definition of a trailer and where it can be parked on a residential property within the city.

A trailer is now defined as a vehicle designed to be attached to or drawn by a motor vehicle or tractor; intended to transport property, and includes any vehicle defined by the Alberta Regulation as a trailer, but does not include machinery or equipment solely used in the construction or maintenance of highways.

This adds to the existing definition in place for recreational vehicles, also commonly referred to as motorhomes, fifth wheels, and holiday trailers.

“We feel it is in the public’s best interest to provide clarity regarding the parking and storage of RVs and trailers within residential districts of the city,” added Copeland. “We also are looking to balance people’s need to store RVs and trailers with the need to keep residential areas clutter-free.”

In March, the City of Cold Lake hosted an open house, outlining the original proposed changes to the Land Use Bylaw. One of these proposed changes included a minimum parking distance of one metre back from the sidewalk, curb or edge of the road.

The new measurement is 0.3 metres from the closest edge, and is measured from the closest point on a trailer or RV, including hitches and fifth-wheel overhangs. The biggest push behind this measurement is safety, because overhanging trailers or RVs are a hazard to pedestrians, cyclists and motorists.

Similar to the original proposal, any RV or trailer must be parked or stored on a driveway, parking pad, or hard-packed ground consisting of rock or gravel. This means you cannot park your trailer on a grass portion of your front or side lawn. Back yards are unaffected, and vehicles can be stored there.

The Land Use Bylaw allows for a maximum of two RVs or trailers allowed to be parked out front or on the side of a home. This part of the bylaw has not changed.

Every year, the City of Cold Lake receives complaints from residents about RVs parked in their neighbourhood, as the previous regulations did not give clear direction on where a trailer could be parked.

“With these new regulations in place, we’re hoping to see a change in the way RVs and trailers are parked in residential areas,” said Copeland. “We want sidewalks to be safer for people using them, and hope that these new regulations accommodate most of the concerns and feedback we received over the year since the original proposal.”

After a public hearing at the council meeting, the bylaw is now in effect, having passed its first, second, and third readings.

The City will be providing further information and education to residents in the new year to help transition the community to the new regulations.