As complaints mount, Crested Butte South to reconsider regulations covering RVs

“We’ve had this rule since 1970”

Summer brings out a lot of things that people don’t see very often in winter: flowers, wildlife, tank tops, sandals and recreational vehicles. 

The Crested Butte South property owners association is looking at new ways for people to store or park their RVs – just not in their driveways.  
 “We’ve had this rule, by covenant, since 1970, where vehicles capable of habitation are not allowed in CB South for more than 24 hours.  Vehicles capable of habitation equal RVs,” says Crested Butte South POA manager Chris Behan.
Behan says fairly frequently the POA gets complaints from Crested Butte South residents about an RV parked somewhere.  Ninety-five percent of the time, he says, the owner of the RV is cooperative and moves their vehicle.  
The POA has received a few complaints this summer, and last Wednesday the board discussed the issue during their monthly meeting.  Behan says the board discussed the idea of using an empty lot in the commercial district as an outside storage area.  The facility would be intended for temporary storage of RVs, as well as other recreational equipment such as trailers, dirt bikes and snowmobiles and other stuff that may end up in the yard.  Most recreational equipment, aside from RVs, can be stored on a person’s driveway, but not in their yards.  Behan says he also gets complaints about storage of recreation equipment, but the main topic the board discussed was the storage of RVs.
But Behan says using a lot in the commercial district is not that simple.  Aside from securing a lease with the lot owner, the POA would also have to overcome their own special commercial district regulations, which were approved by the county last year and grant the POA more authority over development.  “Part of the special regs prohibit outdoor storage in general,” Behan says.    
Behan says he’s putting together a small survey to ask property owners their feelings on RV storage.  
In a recent, broader, neighborhood survey, allowing RVs in Crested Butte South was ranked at the bottom of a list of 10 directives the board should pursue.  
“But somebody’s going to want us to find a way to do it and nobody’s going to want to look at it.  That’s how it’s going to work out,” Behan says.  
Behan says there will be two new board members in August, so the direction the subdivision takes on the issue may change.  The survey will be sent out in the next few weeks.