A few months ago my husband Chuck and I received a letter from Cook County Planning and Zoning. Pulling the letter out of my mailbox, I wondered why the county would be contacting us. I opened it with some trepidation. Although I have friends and a couple of relatives that work for the county, I ascribe to the theory that “I’m here from the government to help you” more often means hindrance or harassment than help.
I was a bit relieved to find that the letter really had nothing to do with us. Apparently, a neighboring property owner on County Road 7 in Grand Marais had submitted a request for an interim use permit to live in a recreational vehicle (RV) while his house was being built.
The county allows the use of RVs “for habitation” only on a limited basis. In Cook County you cannot live out your golden years in a luxurious Jetstream or a cozy Winnebago on your own land. If your family can’t afford to build a house, but can afford an acre of land and a little Coleman motorhome, you cannot legally live in it.
However, property owners can apply for a permit to live in an RV on their own land temporarily. The county gets to decide whether a family can or cannot live in an RV and for how long. Interim use permits can be granted for one year or four years, depending on the circumstances and the whim of the planning commission and the county board of commissioners.
My relief that the letter didn’t apply to me turned to irritation. Why in the world was I being asked if I approved—or didn’t approve—of something happening on my neighbor’s property? Why should it matter if I like or dislike RVs?
This issue comes up again and again. In July, the county board approved three interim use permits allowing people to live in RVs on their own land on Camp 20 Road in Hovland, on County Road 8 in Grand Marais and on a Lake Superior lot in Schroeder.
I’m glad these folks— and my County Road 7 neighbor—were each granted their request for an interim use permit. But I just don’t think they should have to have one.
I understand that there is a concern that an RV is not connected to a sewer or septic system. But as long as arrangements are made to dump the RV’s holding tank, a property owner should be able to live in an RV on his or her own property. A property owner should be able to do what he or she wants with his or her own property, the land he or she has purchased and pays taxes on.
An example of the silliness of an ordinance against people living in RVs is demonstrated by the plight of some friends of ours who own land at beautiful, remote Tom Lake. They don’t live there year round, but the lot they maintain is impeccable. On the lot they kept a lovely little motorhome. It was an older model, very cute in my opinion, set back from the lake and screened from the roadway by trees. I don’t know how it could possibly bother anyone or lower property values.
But somehow the little RV came to the county’s attention and the family was asked to remove the trailer. The property owners could have fought the county and attempted to get a conditional use permit, which allows for long-term use of RVs on permanent foundations. But it really wasn’t worth the fight.
On our next visit we were saddened to see a “For Sale” sign on the lot.
What is really irrational is that in the same neighborhood—and all throughout the county— there are structures that look far worse than that tidy little trailer.
What’s next? Will the county start requiring conditional use permits for ramshackle ramblers or plywood A-frames? Will the neighborhood have to approve your house plans before construction can begin?
Perhaps it’s time to rethink some of our zoning prohibitions. At some point, we need to stay out of one another’s business and off one another’s property. I don’t care what my neighbor’s house looks like, but even if I did, that doesn’t mean I should have a vote in what sort of structure he or she builds. I don’t think the county should either.
Our RV is home. Home is
wherever we are together.
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