Board of Supervisors votes to temporarily allow camping on Lapis Road with restrictions
People living on Lapis Road, either in recreational vehicles, cars or tents, will now have a set of new rules to follow. The Monterey County Board of Supervisors voted 3 to 1 Tuesday to allow people to stay on the road for now, but only between 6 p.m. and 10 a.m. and if they meet certain requirements like having proper vehicle registration. People must also follow all other laws, including no littering.
“I find it to be unnecessary,” said Jay Reed, who lives in an RV along Lapis Road. “There are some people who are not as physically fit. They can’t just pack everything up and then go and then come back.”
The street, just outside Marina, is home to dozens of people, but a few weeks back the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office gave people living there notice to leave by the end of August.
“We’ve heard a lot from those who live on Lapis Road, we’ve heard a lot from property owners and the challenge is balancing all that,” said Elliot Robinson with Department of Social Services. “I personally believe that this a very good balancing act between very difficult concerns, interests and needs.”
One of the other rules is no dumping. Reed admits the trash on the road was pretty bad, but after hearing about the concerns he started cleaning up.
“If you look down the road, we cleaned this up and we did it ourselves. I got a trailer and we went through it,” Reed said.
Many at the meeting said the root of the problem is affordable housing and the fact that Monterey County has a lack of it.
“So there is your solution,” said Becky Johnson with Salinas/Monterey County Homeless Union. “You have to get a handle on housing costs or wages or both.”
The only vote against was Supervisor John Phillips, who had a list of concerns about safety and enforcement. He also doesn’t think Lapis Road is the best place for people to be living. A nearby farmer also brought up concerns about no bathrooms on the road.
The rules will last until November 30th or until the county’s “Safe Parking Program” takes effect.
Most of the funding for the requirements is being paid for by Monterey County Department of Social Service, according to Robinson. We reached out to Supervisor Jane Parker, who introduced the resolution, but her office said she wasn’t available to comment.
