The Pierce County Council might help some South Hill mobile home park residents who stand to be evicted to make way for a shopping center. But at least one resident finds the county’s efforts inadequate.
By a vote of 3-0, the council’s Rules Committee approved a resolution Monday asking County Executive John Ladenburg to look for county land where the residents can store their mobile homes on a temporary basis.
The idea is to give the residents some time – perhaps up to a year – to find permanent locations for their homes. They would not be able to live in their homes while they were stored on county property.
Council Chairman Terry Lee, R-Gig Harbor, said he has questions about the proposal, including what liability the county could face for storing the homes. But he said it’s worth investigating.
“I’m cautiously optimistic that something good can come out of it,” Lee said.
One resident says the move won’t save her current home at the Country Aire Manor mobile home park on Meridian Avenue.
“It’s not a workable solution,” resident Judy Spiers said. “It just makes it look like something’s being done.”
Residents of nearly 70 Country Aire mobile homes learned the park had been sold when they received eviction notices earlier this year. The park was bought by a developer who plans to build a shopping center anchored by a Home Depot.
TOO LATE FOR PARK, COUNCIL SAYS
Since then, most residents have moved away. Spiers said 12 to 15 residents remain at the park, and they have until Feb. 28 to move.
For months, park residents have been pleading with the County Council to save their homes.
Council members say it’s too late to save the park. In response, Councilman Roger Bush, R-Graham, proposed the resolution to find county land where park residents can store their homes temporarily.
The resolution asks the county executive to recommend by Nov. 17 parcels that might be suitable for storing mobile homes. However, that date likely will be pushed back when the measure goes to the full council Nov. 4.
Spiers said temporary storage wouldn’t work. She said residents still would have to find permanent locations for their homes. She said spaces in area mobile home parks are hard to come by and getting scarcer as more parks close.
SIMPLE SOLUTION?
According to the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, mobile home park closures are on the rise.
Last year 18 parks closed around the state, affecting 534 households. An estimated 1,000 parks in urban areas are threatened as rising land values tempt owners to sell.
Two County Council members – Calvin Goings, D-Puyallup, and Tim Farrell, D-Tacoma – might propose a moratorium on converting mobile home parks to other uses.
Goings said the proposed six-month moratorium would provide some protection to other Pierce County mobile home park residents while the county considers zoning regulations that would protect mobile homes in the long run.
The new zoning regulations would come in the form of a comprehensive land-use plan amendment Goings said would be considered next year.
Lee is skeptical of a moratorium. He said that could harm property owners who want to sell their land. But he said he would want to see a specific proposal before making up his mind.
“If there’s a simple solution, whether it’s state or local, we would have heard about it by now,” he said.
David Wickert: 253-274-7341
blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics
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