Worland Board of Adjustment and Planning reviews residential camper exemptions

WORLAND — The Worland Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission explored several loopholes in city ordinances that currently allow people to stay in recreational vehicles on city streets indefinitely.

Monday’s discussion, which came during the board’s regularly scheduled meeting, stemmed from several instances of people taking up residence in recreational vehicles throughout Worland.

“They’re all over the place,” Worland Building Official Randy Adams said, citing several examples.

Currently, definitions in city code forbid people from parking their recreational vehicles on city streets for more than 14 days while staying in them — but there is no enforcement provision.

Discussion Monday sought to shore up those loopholes.

Adams told the board there has been an RV parked across the street from his home for a month-and-a-half.

“Who would like to have an RV sitting in front of your neighbors or whatever for more than 14 days?” Adams asked.

Citing the Bakken Oil Boom in northeastern and northwestern North Dakota, Board Member Mike Dykman said some towns in the region were inundated with RVs parking anywhere and everywhere they could.

“I got friends and family who live in Sidney, Montana, when that boom went on… There were RVs parked in front yards, sidewalks, parking lots, any place (they could),” Dykman said. “RVs outnumbered the homes in Sidney, Montana, because there was no…they didn’t try to confront this.”

The board agreed it’s unlikely Worland would face a similar situation as the one faced in the Bakken.

Board members didn’t vote on any action during the Monday meeting.

In addition to board members discussing people living in RVs parked on city streets, the board also discussed RVs being parked in backyards. The board’s consensus, like on city streets, was that it was acceptable on a temporary basis.

Dykman said he would like to hear from Worland Fire Chief Chris Kocher on if and/or how having campers parked in people’s backyards would impede fire equipment from accessing a potential blaze.