Petaluma RV Debate Continues Tonight With Storage Proposal

PETALUMA, CA — A proposed zoning change in Petaluma would allow outdoor RV storage at city business park, a move city planners say could help address neighborhood complaints about RVs parked on local streets.

To allow RV storage, staff have proposed an amendment to the zoning rules governing the Rancho Arroyo Business Park Planned Community Development district.

The proposal on tonight's Planning Commission agenda is tied in part to redevelopment plans for the former Petaluma Valley Athletic Club property at 85 Corona Road, which has been vacant since 2017.

The property owner has already received approval to convert the former fitness facility into a self-storage complex and wants to add outdoor RV storage, according to a staff report.

City planners say demand for RV storage has grown, while designated off-street parking remains limited. Police data cited in the report shows 358 calls for service related to abandoned RVs over the past three years, though officials say many other complaints about RV parking are reported under broader nuisance or parking categories.

Designated storage facilities in industrial areas could reduce impacts on public streets, according to the report. Long-term neighborhood RV parking can block sight lines, reduce parking availability, and lead to more resident complaints, so having regulated options is seen as a way to directly address these concerns.

However, the proposal does not include overnight RV stays or liveaboards. Under the proposal, access is limited to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. No idling, generators, vehicle repairs, or living in stored RVs are allowed.

In addition, RV storage sites must have a 25-foot setback from homes, six-foot fences, and 10-foot landscaped buffers.

Planning staff say the change would have limited reach because the Rancho Arroyo district — located between the Petaluma River and U.S. Highway 101 — is largely already developed for industrial and business park uses. Only a small number of parcels are likely to accommodate RV storage.

The amendment would not approve a specific RV storage project, but instead create a regulatory framework that could apply to future proposals within the district.

The Planning Commission will consider the recommendation Tuesday. If approved, it moves to the Petaluma City Council for final review.

Planning Commission meeting: 6 p.m. City Hall Council Chamber, 11 English St.