Peabody sets deadline for ending yard camping
Staff writer
After almost two years the Peabody City Council will start enforcing its rules on camping on owned properties
Scott Spunaugles and wife Kathy Crawley, received permission in January 2024, to live in a camper on their property in the 600 block of Sycamore St. for six months while remodeling their house.
The council asked them to come back July 8 and provide an update
On Aug. 12, 2024, the Spunaugles updated the council and was told to return for another update Dec. 9. That never happened, and last week council decided to enforce its policy.
To the dismay of Crawley, the council voted 3-1 for camping by the end of the year.
Crawley responded by saying there was no way the remodeling would be done by then, but the city already had given them close to a two-year exemption.
She said the couple was still working on the house which suffered damage when its basement flooded.
Remodeling the house was more work than initially thought.
Siding, foundation work and flooring are being completed, she said.
Martinez had an issue with allowing the homeowner more time in the trailer.
“We gave you an exemption to live in the trailer for six months and then we granted another six months,” she said. “Peabody, now, has a place where you can park camper trailers with sewer and electrical hookups. Crawley said that would cone with a cost.
“And for me, because of all the trailers in town we’ve made an exemption for a short amount of time,” she added. “I can’t in good conscience allow you to live in the trailer on the property much longer.”
Waiving the ordinance for one couple would not be fair to everyone else, she said.
Council member Tom Spencer, who voted against the motion, said he had seen the remodeling and complimented the Spunaugles for taking on the project.
Crawley asked to delay the action until March, but was told by the council the city had already given them a two-year exemption and was not going to extend the deadline again.