Newport Approves Car Camping

The Newport City Council recently adopted Ordinance 2170.              Ordinance No. 2170 provides that “The owner of a commercial or industrial property, a public entity, or a religious institution/place of worship may offer overnight vehicle camping space to homeless persons living in vehicles, provided:

  A. such accommodations are made free of charge
 
  B. occupancy is limited to three or fewer vehicles at the same time
 
  C. vehicles are located within an on premise parking lot, and are spaced at least 10 feet apart; and
 
              D. all items and materials are stored in vehicles or in a separate storage area that is screened from view from adjacent properties and public rights-of-way; and
 
               E. campers are provided access to sanitary facilities, including a toilet, hand washing and trash disposal facilities, with such facilities being at least 20-feet from the property line of a residential use if not fully contained within a building; and
 
               F. an inspection is performed by the City to confirm that sanitary facilities to confirm that sanitary facilities are in place, required setbacks are met, and any storage areas are screened, before overnight vehicle camping is commenced.”
 
Winter is approaching, and the need for car camping is increasing as the weather becomes progressively inclement.
 
The city plans to develop a list of organizations willing to allow car camping based on the provisions of Ordinance No. 2170. If you own commercial or industrial property or are a religious institution/place of worship, and are willing to offer overnight vehicle camping pursuant to the provisions of Ordinance No. 2170, please contact Peggy Hawker at p.hawker@newportoregon.gov, or by telephone at 541.574.0613.