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Setting the stage for a dicey dilemma, the city’s Environmental Planning Commission hashed out plans to regulate a series of new safe parking sites expected to come online soon. But a groundswell of critics warned that Mountain View’s rules could backfire by being too restrictive.
In an update last Wednesday, the Environmental Planning Commission urged city staff not to load too many rules and requirements on the safe parking program, where people living out of their vehicles can temporarily stay in designated lots instead of parking on city streets.
In an optimistic scenario, city officials hope to open as many as 100 new spaces throughout Mountain View. These safe parking sites will include various public lots, such as parking areas at Shoreline Amphitheatre and a closed light-rail station on Evelyn Avenue. But reaching that goal will also require help from other do-gooders in the community, such as churches, commercial property owners or schools.
At the meeting, city staff presented a proposed set of regulations for safe parking lots, which will be brought later this month to the City Council for approval. Under those rules, the city would allow safe parking sites to open only in certain designated neighborhoods or zoning areas. Any safe parking site must provide restrooms, water, and sewage and garbage service. RVs would need to be generously spaced, and all vehicles would have to leave each morning. No more than 30 vehicles could be located at any single lot, regardless of its size.
On top of these requirements, before any safe parking site could open, it would need to notify all nearby neighbors and win approval from police and planning officials. In emergencies, city officials say they could expedite this approval process, but this list of requirements led some to worry that potential partners would be scared away.
“This plan needs to include some kind of incentives for lot owners to participate. I know that’s difficult, but we need to find it,” warned Dave Arnone, a Move MV board member. “We’re going forward with a ban on oversized vehicles without a plan for where they’re going to go. It’s a hole, and it needs to be addressed.”
As of the city’s latest count, there are over 200 inhabited vehicles on the streets of Mountain View. As a result, city officials have been under pressure to relocate the vehicle encampments somewhere other than residential neighborhoods.
As an alternative, city officials have embraced the idea of safe parking lots, albeit in a very cautious manner. Advocates for the city’s homeless population have admonished the city for opening new safe parking sites too slowly.
At last week’s meeting, many advocates also criticized the city’s restrictions, such as a prohibition on all electrical generators or other hookups. City staffers explained that they believe external power is unnecessary because RVs typically have their own on-board electricity.
In particular, critics seized on a proposed rule for all safe parking lots to operate only overnight, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. During the daytime, anyone living in a vehicle would have to relocate, and presumably they would wind up back on city streets.
“Are these restrictions really necessary?” asked former councilman Lenny Siegel. “Why limit people so they have to move out every day? We have to create a system where people want to be in this system.”
City attorneys say Mountain View would risk legal liability if the city operated safe parking lots all hours of the day. Lots that operate around the clock could be construed to fall under the state’s regulations for mobile homes or trailer parks, which could create zoning issues. For now, they say it is simpler to just keep safe parking to overnight only.
“Any changes to the proposed safe parking program, including operation of a 24/7 program, would require additional legal review,” said former city attorney Jannie Quinn.
EPC members said they want to at least investigate more flexibility for safe parking lots, especially at any city-owned properties. They urged staff to look into allowing some all-hours parking within the city.
“We’re not implying that a person could live there forever and ever,” said EPC chairwoman Pamela Baird.
EPC members asked that the city look into loosening its rules, allowing larger safe parking programs in other areas of the city. Under current rules, nearly all lots would be in the North Bayshore and East Whisman areas due to their concentration of commercial and industrial properties.
The Mountain View City Council is scheduled to take up the safe parking ordinance at its Sept. 24 meeting.
I have to agree with the first poster. Why move my home to a special lot for a couple of hours when I can wait a few days on a public street? And as a resident,why would I expect them to do anything less? If the rules are more demanding on those of us with the least options then we are all screwed.
Given that President Trump is visiting the area today, it’s exciting to note just how much the people posting here (and some members of our current council) agree with him!
“Trump says homeless people are living in “our best highways, our best streets, our best entrances to buildings” where people pay “tremendous taxes” and want “prestige.” Says he’s speaking to tenants who “want to leave the country.” He adds: “We’ll be doing something about it.””
Can’t wait for the trump shelters! I’m sure he’ll find a way for Mexico to pay for them!
Here’s an alternative plan: enforce the existing rules against parking oversized vehicles in Mountain View.
Then, work with developers to find out what existing restrictions and regulations are limiting their ability to add housing in Mountain View.
The only way out of this mess is for the city to help address the pent up demand for housing that isn’t being met by the existing codes.
Who is Lenny Siegel and what role does he play in this? He should realize we live in the CITY of Mountain View and not the FAVELA of Mountain View. If he wants to live in a shanty town, there are plenty in Oakland and San Jose.
Does anyone know how the safe parking program is going to operate? Will anyone who wants a space be able to take one, or will MV limit occupancy to former residents and people who work in town?
Once the safe parking lots are up and running, will the city start ticketing and towing vehicles that violate height restrictions and the 72-hour parking rules? If not, it seems that MV will soon be hosting 400 RVs instead of 200.