Vidalia Holds Ordinance Hearings Prior To Official Vote
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The Vidalia City Council held a public forum on Thursday afternoon, November 21, to discuss the proposed ordinances regarding solar panels, RVs and RV parks, and short-term rentals.
Mayor Doug Roper, City Manager Josh Beck, City Marshal Chad Phillips, and City Attorney Daniel O’Connor attended the meeting to hear concerns from citizens before the ordinances are officially voted on during the next city council meeting. The current proposed ordinance drafts have changed from the originally proposed documents, according to the officials, as city administrators have worked to amend the original texts to best fit the city of Vidalia.
The first ordinance discussed was the legislation regarding solar panels, which would outlaw ground-mounted solar panels within the city, with the exception of small panels used to power gates. The ordinance allows roof-mounted solar panels within the city, and only provides clarifications on how solar panels should be positioned on roods of residences facing the street.
The second ordinance discussed in the hearing was the ordinance discussing regulations for RVs and RV parks. According to O’Connor, this ordinance is broken into two parts: rules for living temporarily in RVs and regulations for the creation of RV parks within city limits.
Living temporarily in travel trailers, motor coaches, campers, fifth wheels, and similar vehicles, citizens must either have a property that is uninhabitable because of natural disaster, in which case, the resident may live in a camper while the home is remediated; a property undergoing substantial remodeling that makes the home inhabitable; or building a new home and have already obtained all necessary permits. In these circumstances, residents should obtain a permit from the city to live in the camper, which is valid for 180 days. This time frame may be lengthened by the city marshal if there are delays in the projects.
Upon reviewing these guidelines within the ordinance, citizen Kelly Tippett asked the administrators how they would determine whether or not someone was living in a camper. City Marshal Phillips told Tippett that the ordinance would be mostly based on complaints from the public, but that the presence of extension cords and sewage removal equipment connected to the vehicles could serve as clues that someone was living in the camper.
“People usually don’t have the slides out and things hooked up if they are just parking a camper in their yard. Those things will usually let us know if someone is living there,” Phillips added.
The RV ordinance also gives regulations for RV parks within the city, stating these parks must have a special permit, pay hotel/motel tax, and be located within the I-1 zoning areas. RV parks cannot be adjacent to state or federal highways and must be at least 5 acres big, with no more than 10 sites per acre. When staying at the park, RVs must be separated by at least 20 feet and there must be 2 off-street parking spots for each campsite. The campground must also have a 24-hour emergency contact.
The last ordinance discussed short-term rentals within the city, which are residences and rooms that are leased for 30 days or less. If this ordinance is passed, owners of these rentals must now acquire a special license and business tax certificate, and must pay hotel/motel tax.
“The biggest thing about this ordinance is that you have to have a local agent to respond to any issues,” City Attorney O’Connor said. “You cannot be an absentee investor in a short-term rental unless they have a designated local person on call whose contact is on file with the city.”
O’Connor said that this ordinance has “minimal standards” when compared to AirBnB and VRBO companies. The permits and certificates required for these rentals will cost $250 total the first time the licensing is purchased, and a $75 renewal fee annually.
Local Short-Term Rental Owner Lyndi Dean addressed the administrators, asking that they consider charging fees that will be proportional to the size of the rental, as she and her son own a small one bedroom and one bathroom rental that would cost the same amount of money as a full residential home.
City Manager Beck emphasized that any citizens who read the ordinance and wish to share any thoughts or expertise on the subjects contact him prior to the city council meeting next month. These ordinances are available for review by contacting Vidalia City Hall at (912) 537-7661.
