Off-road measure goes to planners

By: The Californian -

An ordinance that seeks to make peace between off-roaders looking for places to ride and neighbors looking for quiet is headed for what is sure to be a noisy public hearing before the Riverside County Planning Commission.

The commission meeting begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday in the first-floor auditorium of the County Administrative Center, 4080 Lemon St., Riverside. Because the ordinance is the last item on a lengthy all-day agenda, planners say the commission probably won't get to the item until 3 p.m., at the earliest.

Trying to balance the ordinance against the two sides, county planners have been meeting with off-roaders and their neighbors, massaging and rewriting the measure over many months. The latest version, released late last month, is centered around a provision that would bar motorcycle and dune-buggy riding after dark, and limit daytime off-roading to three days of the week: Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The latest rewrite also would:

- Require families to own at least 2.5 acres before they could ride off-road vehicles on their properties.

- Limit the number of riders at a time to two on properties ranging from 2.5 acres to 10 acres, three on parcels between 10 acres and 20 acres, and four for all larger properties. A family would have to obtain a conditional-use permit to allow five or more people to ride at the same time.

- Mandate that riders stay at least 50 feet away from neighbors' property lines and 200 feet from the nearest houses.

- Limit noise and dust drifting onto neighbors' land.

The measure would apply to unincorporated areas throughout Riverside County, but not land inside cities.

Commissioners hear off-roading debate

By Mike Cruz, Staff Writer

RIVERSIDE - Planning commissioners in Riverside County agreed Wednesday evening that the county needs to protect residents from the noise and dust of off-roaders who go overboard.
But how they should go about it - with an ordinance that directly addresses off-highway vehicles or separate regulations aimed at excessive sound and dust - could not be determined.

After more than three hours of public testimony, the Planning Commission voted 5-0 to delay an amendment to its General Plan to allow off-highway vehicles in certain zones and change an existing ordinance to regulate how the vehicles can be used.

The issue will be discussed again at its Aug. 31 meeting, after county staff has had more time to research the issue. Most incorporated cities, such as Calimesa and Beaumont, already looked at how to address off-roading several years ago.

"There's no question that we need something, and I think that's the correct path to go," said Commissioner John Snell. But he was concerned the existing proposed ordinance amendments may have been too overreaching.

The proposal before the Planning Commission would have permitted the vehicles in certain zones and only from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, according to a county report. During Daylight Savings Time, the end time would be an hour later.

Parcels allowable for the vehicles would also have to be at least 2 acres, with three vehicles allowed on parcels 10 to 20 acres and four vehicles granted on parcels 20 acres and greater, the report said. Larger parcels could be subject to a Conditional Use Permit.

"This is a good starting point," Commissioner John Roth said, adding that lots of things need fixing. "The major problem I see is enforcement, enforcement and enforcement."

Commissioners did not receive any estimated manpower or fiscal analysis for implementing the proposed amendments at the meeting. They were also concerned about approving a set of restrictions that may need to be revisited again as more residents move to the county's outlying areas.

Winchester residents Mark and Sandy Taylor operate a business from their home called Animals First, which houses animals such as horses. However, the couple lives next to extreme freestyle jumper Nate Adams, whose off-road activity disturbs their animals, they said.

"It's an unsuitable situation," said Sandy Taylor. "Our neighborhood has been torn apart by this situation."

David Hubbard, who spoke against the proposed changes, said they only target off-highway vehicle users even though other types of vehicles, such as farm and construction equipment, also kick up dust and make noise.

Hubbard suggested the county work on enforcing individual rules regarding noise, dust, grading and vandalism - some of which already exist.

"Let's go after the people who are not complying with the existing rules, and I think you will see this problem disappear," Hubbard said.

While off-roading is currently not an allowable use in any zones of Riverside County, there are 48,000 registered off-highway vehicles in the county and another 150,000 registered off-highway vehicles in neighboring counties. Some state and federal areas allow the vehicles with day-use permits.