Town Council Workshop Meeting

Docusign Envelope ID: E1B35B3A-59B5-89EB-82E7-D79C81F17809 TOWN OF LOXAHATCHEE GROVES TOWN COUNCIL WORKSHOP MEETING TOWN HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS – 155 F. Road, Loxahatchee Groves, FL 33470 Tuesday, March 17, 2026 Town Council Workshop Summary – March 17, 2026 The Town Council convened a workshop to discuss potential revisions to the Town’s Recreational Vehicle (RV) Program, with a focus on simplifying regulations, improving compliance, and addressing ongoing enforcement challenges. Opening and Public Comment The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and adoption of the agenda. During initial public comment, a resident expressed strong concerns about the current RV program, particularly the allowance of year-round RV occupancy. The speaker advocated for:  Limiting RV use strictly to the equestrian season  Restricting usage to equestrian-related purposes  Requiring registration and fees for all RV occupants  Preventing long-term stays by seasonal or transient residents unrelated to equestrian activities The resident emphasized that the current system risks turning the Town into a “trailer park” and cited concerns about overcrowding and lack of enforcement. Key Discussion Topics 1. Proposed RV Program Structure Council reviewed a staff proposal to divide the program into two categories:  Personal, Unoccupied RVs (storage)  Occupied RVs (residential or rental use) Docusign Envelope ID: E1B35B3A-59B5-89EB-82E7-D79C81F17809 For personal storage, initial ideas included:  Limiting to one RV per parcel  Requiring an affidavit and annual sticker  Eliminating routine inspections unless complaints are filed Councilmembers debated whether inspections should still occur to ensure proper sanitation and utility connections. 2. Enforcement and Cost Concerns A major issue identified was the cost inefficiency of the current program:  Approximate cost to administer: $80,000  Revenue generated: $20,000  Net loss to the Town: $60,000 Councilmembers questioned whether a permit-heavy system is worthwhile and discussed shifting toward:  Simplified rules without intensive permitting  Complaint-based enforcement  Targeting only clear violations rather than regulating all users 3. Core Problem: Illegal RV Parks The central concern repeated throughout the workshop was the proliferation of illegal RV park- like uses, including:  Multiple RVs on single parcels  Long-term occupancy  Unregulated sewage disposal  Rental activity operating as businesses Council agreed the primary goal is to: Eliminate illegal RV parks while not penalizing compliant residents Docusign Envelope ID: E1B35B3A-59B5-89EB-82E7-D79C81F17809 4. Personal Use vs. Commercial Use A key distinction discussed was:  Personal use (family, guests, caretakers)  Commercial use (renting RVs or spaces) Residents and Councilmembers highlighted the difficulty of enforcement, noting:  It is hard to prove whether someone is charging rent  Long-term guests may appear identical to renters  Code enforcement cannot easily verify occupancy intent from the street This ambiguity was identified as a major obstacle to effective regulation. 5. Property Use and Agricultural Classification Significant debate centered on how agricultural (ag) properties should be treated:  Whether RV allowances should differ for ag vs. non-ag properties  Confusion over “bona fide agricultural use” versus tax classification  Concerns about abuse (e.g., minimal agricultural activity used to justify additional RVs) Some Councilmembers argued:  Agricultural operations may legitimately require caretaker housing  However, allowances should not enable increased density or rental activity 6. Requirement for a Primary Residence There was strong support for reinstating a requirement that:  A permitted residential structure must exist on the property to allow RV use Rationale:  Prevents absentee owners from creating remote RV rental sites  Ensures oversight of RV activity on the property  Limits use of vacant land for quasi-commercial operations An exception was made for: Docusign Envelope ID: E1B35B3A-59B5-89EB-82E7-D79C81F17809  Caretaker RVs on legitimate agricultural properties 7. Acreage-Based Limits Council explored simplifying regulations by tying RV limits to parcel size:  Less than 2 acres → 1 RV  2–5 acres → 2 RVs  More than 5 acres → up to 4 RVs This approach was seen as:  Easier to enforce  More objective than use-based distinctions However, concerns remained about fairness and potential loopholes. 8. “Personal Property” and Overregulation Concerns Residents raised concerns about overreach, particularly regarding:  Ownership of multiple RVs or trailers for personal use  Comparisons to owning multiple boats or vehicles Council clarified that:  The intent is not to regulate personal recreational equipment  The focus should remain on occupancy and rental activity, not ownership 9. Seasonal vs. Year-Round Use Council revisited whether RV occupancy should be:  Limited to a 6-month seasonal period, or  Allowed year-round Concerns about year-round use included:  Increased density  Strain on services Docusign Envelope ID: E1B35B3A-59B5-89EB-82E7-D79C81F17809  Emergency risks (e.g., hurricane season occupancy) However, enforcing seasonal limits was acknowledged to be complex. 10. Compliance Strategy A recurring theme was the need to encourage voluntary compliance:  Keep requirements simple and affordable  Possibly use a low-cost registration or affidavit system  Avoid overly burdensome permitting processes The goal is to:  Bring more residents into compliance first  Then focus enforcement on repeat or egregious violators Emerging Consensus / Direction While no final decisions were made, several points of general agreement emerged:  The current system is overly complex and inefficient  The Town should simplify rules and reduce administrative burden  A residential structure requirement should likely be reinstated  Caretaker allowances may be appropriate for legitimate agricultural uses  Illegal RV parks and rental operations are the primary issue to address  A balance must be struck between: o Protecting residents’ property rights o Preventing abuse and overuse of land Staff was directed to return with revised recommendations incorporating Council feedback. Conclusion The workshop highlighted the complexity of regulating RV use in a rural community with mixed residential and agricultural uses. Council emphasized the need for a practical, enforceable, and fair approach that prioritizes compliance and targets misuse without overregulating residents. Docusign Envelope ID: E1B35B3A-59B5-89EB-82E7-D79C81F17809 Disclaimer: Minutes were created with the use of AI. Recordings of all meetings are available at https://www.loxahatcheegrovesfl.gov/ TOWN OF LOXAHATCHEE GROVES, FLORIDA ATTEST: Mayor Anita Kane, Seat 3 Town Clerk Vice Mayor Margaret Herzog, Seat 5 Councilmember Todd McLendon, Seat 1 Councilmember Lisa El-Ramey, Seat 2 Councilmember Paul Coleman II, Seat 4