GROVES — Confusing rules regarding parking and storage of recreational vehicles and off-street parking will be up for discussion at an upcoming council meeting in Groves.

Two sections of a Groves City ordinance deal with the issue; one with parking and storage of recreational vehicles such as trailers, campers, tent trailer, boat and trailer and similar vehicles while another section addresses residential off-street parking.

The issue came to light recently after a Groves resident received a letter about his RV. The resident expressed his concern on the Groves Texas Neighborhood Watch Facebook page and spoke with city officials.

Council will discuss the issue and take citizen comments at the regularly scheduled meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday at City Hall, 3947 Lincoln Ave.

One ordinance, section 9-1700, says in part that parking and storage of the occupants’ own uninhabited recreational vehicles shall be allowed on each lot so long as they are parked no closer than 10 feet from the front property.

A second ordinance, 9-908, says in part that off-street parking of a vehicle or trailer in the front of side yard of a residence is prohibited unless the space is a hard surfaced area. It must be completely on private property and shall consist of rock, shell, concrete, asphalt or similar hard surface material. It can be no less than 9-feet by 20-feet but no more than 50 percent of the front and side yards combined.

1. Sosa, Groves city manager, is looking to recommend a blending of the two ordinances.

The rules, he said, are clear but need to be in the same section so all requirements can be seen under one section.

“My recommendation would be to blend the two ordinances keeping the hard surface requirement and using the setback requirement of ‘must be totally on private property.’ The city then enforces uniformly and fairly the new blended ordinance with the property line as the setback,” Sosa said.

Using the property line will eliminate many issues on RV’s that are not detrimental or a safety issue in the neighborhood.

This will help if a person meets all requirements but one, he may go to the zoning board of adjustment for a variance.

According to city government, the ZBA can “authorize in specific cases, a variance from the terms of the ordinance if the variance is not contrary to the public interest and, due to special conditions, a literal enforcement of the ordinance would result in unnecessary hardship, and so that the spirit of the ordinance is observed and substantial justice is done.”

In other business, council will discuss possible improvements to city parks and hear a presentation of a donation from Community Bank of Texas to be used toward improvements at the new Huntsman Sports Complex/Groves Fields.

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