CRACKDOWN ON RV PARKING CAUSES RESIDENTS TO REVOLT.Byline: Lee Condon Daily News Staff Writer For 20 years Sharon Benoit has parked a house trailer on a recreational vehicle pad in front of her La Crescenta home. But last month she received a letter from the Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County Regional Planning regional planning: see city planning. Department informing her that it's illegal to park a trailer in front of her house, because of a law passed by the Board of Supervisors. Benoit and 22 other residents of the unincorporated Adj. 1. unincorporated - not organized and maintained as a legal corporation unorganised, unorganized - not having or belonging to a structured whole; "unorganized territories lack a formal government" community of La Crescenta were warned that they would face criminal prosecution if they didn't move their trailers, RVs, motor homes and sailboats. The county only investigates when people complain, and one anonymous resident sent in a letter complaining about more than 20 properties. ``All of a sudden we're told something different,'' said Benoit, whose trailer is parked on a concrete RV pad. ``It's a joke. My trailer is not obstructing any views. It's not a hazard. It's not an eyesore eye·sore n. Something, such as a distressed building, that is unpleasant or offensive to view. eyesore Noun something very ugly Noun 1. . My neighbors have never complained.'' The citations have RV owners calling for La Crescenta to create its own community plan so it can rid itself of county laws that don't fit the community. ``We're a community of outdoor enthusiasts,'' Benoit said. ``When we bought into this community, we knew there were other people here who enjoyed the same thing.'' The law prohibits anyone from parking a trailer, recreational vehicle or camper closer than 20 feet from the road and anywhere directly in front of a home, no matter how far back from the road the structure is set. According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. county officials, the sole reason for the law is to prevent RVs from blocking neighbors' views as they pull out of their driveways. People can get variances to the law, but it costs $700 to apply for what is known as a ``yard modification.'' In that procedure residents have to prove their RV is not creating a hazard for people driving nearby. Those who received the warning letters packed a recent meeting of the Crescenta Valley The Crescenta Valley is a small inland valley in Los Angeles County, California. Its name derives from its crescent-like shape, with the convex portion facing roughly northeast and the concave portion southwest. Town Council, a panel of local officials who advise the county about how La Crescenta people feel about county issues. The council voted to ask the county to suspend enforcement of the ordinance A law, statute, or regulation enacted by a Municipal Corporation. An ordinance is a law passed by a municipal government. A municipality, such as a city, town, village, or borough, is a political subdivision of a state within which a municipal corporation has been in La Crescenta until locals have a chance to debate the issue. La Crescenta resident Joe Serge serge 1 n. A twilled cloth of worsted or worsted and wool, often used for suits. [Middle English sarge, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *s said he was not the person who complained to the county, but he does agree with the law as it's written now. ``It's an eyesore. I wouldn't want to see the value of my home go down the drain because people are putting that stuff out on their lawn. To get into a nice residential area and to put an RV out there is wrong,'' Serge said. ``They set laws and they should be kept.'' Pam Holt, the acting administrator for advanced planning for the Regional Planning Department, said the county will suspend enforcement until La Crescenta residents reach some consensus on the issue. Morris Litwack, the acting section head for the Regional Planning Department's zoning enforcement unit in the area, said the county only enforces the ordinance when it receives a complaint. ``We respond to written complaints from members of the community,'' Litwack said. ``Some people would rather see a heap of nuclear waste in a front yard rather than a motor home.'' Typically the county will send a resident several warning letters before turning a case over to the district attorney, who can criminally prosecute To follow through; to commence and continue an action or judicial proceeding to its ultimate conclusion. To proceed against a defendant by charging that person with a crime and bringing him or her to trial. people who flout flout v. flout·ed, flout·ing, flouts v.tr. To show contempt for; scorn: flout a law; behavior that flouted convention. See Usage Note at flaunt. v.intr. the law. Litwack said he is not aware of any RV cases that have even gone that far. CAPTION(S): photo PHOTO Trailers in La Crescenta are not supposed to be parked closer than 20 feet from the road and anywhere directly in front of a home. John McCoy/Daily News |
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