The College Station City Council on Thursday shot down a proposal to prohibit residents from keeping boats and RVs in their driveways and front yards.
The decision came after RV owners packed City Hall for a public hearing on the issue at the council's regular bi-weekly meeting. Nineteen residents spoke out against the rule change, with the full gallery applauding after each one finished. City staff also gave the council 19 emails from people who opposed a new law.
The issue arose after a group of residents who were frustrated with seeing recreational vehicles in their neighbors' front yards approached city staff and requested a ban. No one spoke in favor of the change Thursday night.
The council voted five-to-two to direct staff not to pursue the ordinance. No law was prepared for a vote at Thursday's meeting -- city staff had simply asked whether they should move forward with preparing a new rule.
The council members who rejected the idea said they believed a ban would go too far in restricting residents' property rights.
"Let's draw the line in the sand and say enough is enough," said Councilman Karl Mooney.
Council members Katy-Marie Lyles and Blanche Brick were the two votes in favor of pursuing an ordinance. Both said they weren't sure how they would vote, but said the issue needed further investigation.
"Nobody here wants to restrict anyone's rights," Lyles said.
Senior Planner Matt Robinson said city laws currently prohibit the storing of recreational vehicles on streets for more than 72 hours every 30 days. Robinson told the council that a new law could require the vehicles to be kept in backyards, as long as they were screened from public view.
After the item was listed on the agenda for Thursday's meeting, a group of RV enthusiasts posted flyers on houses that had boats and RVs in their yards and encouraged them to attend the meeting.
Many attendees said they would have no way to store their RVs and boats if an ordinance passed. They also said that residents who wanted to ban the vehicles could form neighborhood associations and eliminate them through deed restrictions.
"I think an eyesore is in the eye of the beholder, and I do not believe it is the city's job to determine the aesthetics of the neighborhood," said Suzanne Droleskey.
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