FOUNTAIN VALLEY : Lilac Ave. Camper Ban Gets Initial OK

In an effort to clean up Lilac Avenue, the City Council has approved a proposed ordinance that would ban people from parking motor homes on the street.

The ordinance, which is expected to receive final review Nov. 1, prohibits vehicles more than 18 feet long and 8 feet wide from parking along Lilac Avenue between Richardson Street and Harbor Boulevard.

The law was sparked by resident complaints about visitors using the area as an overnight campground, creating safety and health concerns, City Manager Raymond H. Kromer said.

“This will resolve the problems that have occurred,” Kromer said.

Kromer said those problems included more trash in the area, the dumping of waste water onto the street and complaints by some residents who say they have been confronted by transients. There has also been prostitution and drug sales problems.

Police Chief Elvin G. Miali said people have been cited for sleeping in their vehicles and that the ordinance will provide police with an additional enforcement tool.

Bill Raymond, president of Harbor Valley Homeowners’ Assn., praised the council’s action to clean up the neighborhood.

“It’s just an unsavory situation,” he said. “People sleep all night in RVs and they do their duties in the gutter. It’s blight in the neighborhood.”