The alternative housing committee, led by Jamie O’Hern, met again May 5 with tensions being high. The group met twice previously and Monday’s meeting was to review the code changes draft that O’Hern recently created.
O’Hern said the town’s problem is there have been discrepancies in what the codes are and how they’re enforced. O’Hern said because of her personal situation of RV living on her own property and other complaints to town, she took on the task of developing changes for clarity.
Some were in attendance, like Allie Sutherland, who questioned why the town is considering code changes, and if perhaps enforcement manner was the issue.
Others at the meeting, including O’Hern, Destiny Reed, John Townsend and Aimee Tooker, would like freedom to do as they wish with their properties, including having accessory dwelling units, RVs or campers.
Sutherland, though, said personal rights need to be balanced with the overall well-being of the community. She said sanitation risks and more need to discussed. She said Nucla’s infrastructure might not be able to support additional RVs on properties.
O’Hern said she was ready to discuss the draft plan she created, which addresses many of Sutherland’s concerns. She said the code she’s written to be considered specifies no unsanitary conditions, no sewage on the ground, no trash everywhere, no excess alcohol or drugs, no RVs on every single lot or encroaching on neighbors. She said inspections should be put into place to make sure utilities were done to code. She added travel homes should be insured. No overgrowth of vegetation should be allowed, no gas generators should be permitted and fire extinguishers should be on site. Smoke and carbon alarms should be required. O’Hern said an RV that is immobile shouldn’t have to be registered as a moving vehicle. She said it’s about removing subjectivity from the approval process.
Tooker agreed it should be about following guidelines, not personal stories on why someone needs a permit for RV living or accessory-dwelling units.
“It’s nobody’s business. Having guidelines to follow removes personal reasons,” Tooker said.
O’Hern asked who could do the inspections to make sure RV dwellers were compliant. The town has a building inspector, and some said those seeking permits could pay a fee to pay for the inspector’s time.
Regarding density, O’Hern said it could be one RV or additional dwelling unit per less than one acre; or, for one acre or more, one per acre, with a maximum of three. O’Hern wants solar to be an option for not connecting to the electric grid. She’d like to see composting toilets as an option too. O’Hern said typical setbacks, of five to 10 feet, should be required.
Sutherland said safety should be taken seriously in all situations.
Tim Tait, on the committee, said some pieces of O’Hern’s draft were too vague. In other words, what defines “nuisance,” or “debris and overgrowth” or “odor”?
Charlene Stevenson said not to assume that if people are not attending they don’t care. She said it’s hard for her to attend, but she does care. In fact, she brought forth pages of research she’d done, showing what other towns of 500 people are doing regarding RVs or accessory dwelling units. Her research shows that many towns are not allowing RVs on properties, and some have time limits.
Stevenson also said there are state laws for composting toilets that should be minimum standards, if Nucla adopts those into code. Low temperatures can also affect composting toilets, she’s learned. And, there are a variety of types. Stevenson said she gets composting toilets for homesteading, but having them in a municipality could be problematic.
She’s also concerned about fire danger with regard to density. She wants the town to take a step back and move slowly on any changes.
O’Hern thanked Stevenson for her research and communication.
Some in attendance requested more town board members show up to the committee meetings, or the code enforcement officer. Mayor Paula Brown, in attendance, said she worried about subjecting trustees or the officer to the unruliness of the meeting.
It’s true that voices were raised, cursing was commonplace and no procedural order was followed.
Miranda Fengel expressed criticism over the hostile nature of the meeting and said productive conversations about vacant trailers and more need to take place. She also said O’Hern is coming up with a proposal — not making any final decisions. Fengel said the group should “put the brakes on” and “allow more time.”
Reed asked the mayor if a moratorium could be established to allow O’Hern and others who were in jeopardy of not following existing code to be able to remain as they are for the time being, since they are trying to be part of the solution. Brown said that’s a board decision she couldn’t make. `
The mayor thanked Race Harrison, an advocate of code changes, for her peaceful approach.
The Forum later asked Brown about a planning and zoning board, made up of elected officials, and if that might be more productive for decorum and parliamentary procedure. Brown said at this time the town board is the planning and zoning board.
