A Greenwood couple was surprised when they recently received a warning about the trailer that had been parked in front of their home for about two decades.
The warning stated the 30-foot trailer was violating city rules and they could face fines of up to $50 a day if it wasn’t moved. Cheryl and Larry Schoolcraft appealed, saying the trailer isn’t an eyesore and should be allowed to remain in the same location it has always been.
And now their appeal is prompting the city to consider changing the way it approves waivers for homeowners who want to keep an RV or trailer on their property without violating city rules.
Since 2013, Greenwood has had restrictions on how trailers, recreational vehicles and boats can be stored in front of houses. The rules have been the subject of multiple discussions by the city council, and waivers of the city’s rules on RVs and trailers is a common request for the board of works, Greenwood City Council president Mike Campbell said.
Now, the city council is considering whether to make it easier to people to get a waiver from following the rules.
When the council first gave the board of works the ability to grant waivers of the city’s regulations on storing RVs and trailers, it didn’t specify what circumstances would qualify for receiving a waiver, Campbell said.
Campbell has proposed clarifying under what circumstances waivers should be allowed, which would let the board of works consider factors, such as the appearance of the vehicle or trailer, how close it is to nearby homes and how vehicles are stored on the property. The proposed rule change is set for its first vote at the next city council meeting June 19.
The proposal would give the board of works more leeway in granting waivers in appropriate situations, Campbell said.
In the case of the Schoolcrafts, the rule should make it easier for them to get the waiver they are requesting, council member Brent Corey said.
The Schoolcrafts mainly use the trailer to store a 1955 Chevy, which they take to car shows, Cheryl Schoolcraft said.
If the city doesn’t allow the trailer to stay on their property, Cheryl Schoolcraft isn’t sure what she and her husband will decide to do, but is concerned they may end up having to store the trailer and car somewhere away from their home, where they risk having it damaged or stolen.
