If the city is going to crack down on accessory dwelling units, when will it crack down on PPRUs (Perpetually Parked Recreational Units)? PPRUs are tent trailers, travel trailers, RVs, boats, rafts, ATVs, etc. I live in “old Durango,” and there have been eight PPRUs parked in a three-block section all summer. Besides taking up valuable parking space, they block street sweeping and recycling pickups – and they screen my view of the rose garden across the street. What really kills me is that most of these PPRUs don’t move all summer. For a town that prides itself on being “outdoor-activity friendly,” why do the owners of these PPRUs park on city streets and never use their toys? When the city’s fall cleanup comes, will the city remove these PPRUs? – Perpetually Perplexed
There are a number of explanations for the street summer scourge of PPRUs, with cheapness topping the list. You know how stingy some Durangoans can be.
Why pay for storage when you can do it for free on your street?
The problem is that it’s not “your” street. It’s the city’s – and parsimonious parkers might find themselves renting an RV space from an impound lot.
The city rules governing PPRUs are as obvious as a Good Sam sticker on the back of a Winnebago.
“Recreational vehicles may not be stored in public right-or-way,” reads section 10-1-23 of the City Code.
And by “recreational vehicle,” the definition not only includes self-powered motorhomes but also “travel trailers, truck campers and camping trailers.”
If PPRUs prove to be so bothersome, you can call Durango Code Enforcement at 375-4930. It will investigate and cite the scofflaw, if appropriate.
Remember that Code Enforcement responds to complaints and doesn’t generally seek out violations. So it’s up to you.
A better plan would be to let you neighbor know about the neighborhood rules in a neighborly way.
There’s also the issue of parking in general. You might not realize it, but you can park on the street for only one day in one place.
Yup. That’s the catch-all law. It applies to all “vehicles,” which specifically includes “trailers.”
If a vehicle hasn’t moved “for a period of 24 hours or more,” it is “presumed to be abandoned,” reads the city code.
Abandoned vehicles can be towed 72 hours after being ticketed or notified.
It’s a lot of work making sure one’s recreational vehicles remain idle.
In order to get around this law, you have to move your vehicle (car, trailer, pop-up) at least 25 feet within the 24-hour period,” the code states.
So the city has you coming and going. Obviously, they’d rather have you going.
But there’s still the question regarding copious amounts of equipment and why the producers of “Hoarders” don’t come to Durango for an intervention.
Mrs. Action often shakes her head after encountering an RV the size of Battlestar Galactica piled with bikes, boats and a satellite TV dish.
She asks, “Why do people who want to get away from it all end up taking everything with them?”
At least those are the people doing something. Your issue is with the ones with all this stuff and don’t go anywhere.
Again, we can chalk it up to the “Durango Lifestyle,” which can be explained thusly:
People move here to engage in vigorous outdoor activities. Then the money runs out, so they get a job to pay for recreation on their days off.
Soon, the days off become days available for more work because recreational costs go up but the paycheck doesn’t.
That’s the point at which you achieve the Durango Lifestyle.
It’s when you don’t have the time to spend the money you’re not making.
Email questions to actionline@durangoherald.com or mail them to Action Line, The Durango Herald, 1275 Main Ave., Durango, CO 81301. You can request anonymity if you own a sleeping bag but didn’t use it once this year.
