The Mancos Town Board killed two contentious proposed ordinances Wednesday that would have changed parking laws and limited living in motor homes.
One ordinance would have limited the number of days that someone could live in an RV. The other would have restricted parking RVs, trailers, and other nonpassenger vehicles on the street or sidewalk for more than 48 hours.
Several trustees voiced health concerns associated with living in RVs and ongoing problems with oversize vehicles parking on the street, but ultimately the board voted unanimously to kill the ordinances.
"I think we have to look at it on a case-by-case basis," said Trustee Alan Rolston.
At the town board meeting on Feb. 26, many citizens voiced the concern that the rules would be unfair to those who could only afford to live in RVs and that parking problems were best solved between neighbors. At Wednesday's meeting, both issues were debated again.
Resident Jim Justice supported limits to RVs for the good of the town.
"It's going to start looking like a college flophouse," he said.
Barbara Black, another resident, said there were limited resources for those living in RVs. She said those living in motorhomes were hard-working people who wouldn't pollute their neighborhood as others suggested.
"I don't think anyone in their right mind would dump raw sewage on the ground," she said.
Limitations on parking pitted the arguments for limiting blight against personal property rights.
"The street is not a storage yard, and I don't want my community to look like one" said resident Jennifer Guy.
But determining the right of way in Mancos to enforce such laws would be particularly difficult because of the age of the roads.
Sunny Gail said she measured and found part of her yard was technically in the right of way.
"I don't know how some things could be enforceable," she said.
Ultimately, the board elected not to act on the two issues.
Guy spoke in defense of the parking ordinance because she felt that businesses wouldn't be attracted to the town in its current state.
"I'm disappointed it didn't pass. It's a very common ordinance in most towns, and I think it improves the quality of our towns," she said.
But Tim Hunter was pleased because there are already many state and county laws in place that address many of the health and safety concerns.
"These broad-brush-stroke regulations, it's inappropriate for a town of our size," said Hunter.
mshinn@cortezjournal.com