The council’s Rules Committee voted 2-1 to table the proposal indefinitely after park owners testified it would deprive them of their property rights.

The proposal stemmed from an announcement earlier this year that the Country Aire Manor mobile home park in South Hill will close to make way for a shopping center anchored by Home Depot. Park residents have until Feb. 28 to move. Most already have.

Country Aire isn’t the only mobile home park in jeopardy.

Rising land values tempt many park owners to sell. According to the state Department of Community, Trade & Economic Development, 18 parks around the state closed last year, affecting 534 households. An estimated 1,000 parks in urban areas around the state are threatened.

For months Country Aire residents pleaded with the County Council to save their homes. County officials said there was little they could do.

But two Democratic council members – Tim Farrell of Tacoma and Calvin Goings of Puyallup – proposed a six-month moratorium on converting parks to other uses. They said it would give the county time to develop a long-term strategy to preserve mobile homes.

Their plan got a hearing today. Nearly everyone who testified opposed the plan. Among them were numerous park owners who said the moratorium would amount to taking their private property without compensation.

“When a park is no longer viable, the owner should do what he sees is best for his pocketbook,” said Buddy Cox of Orting, the manager of a park.

Two of three Rules Committee members agreed. Councilman Shawn Bunney, R-Lake Tapps, said he feels sorry for anyone who has been forced from a home.

But Bunney said low-income mobile home park residents qualify for state relocation assistance. And he said the county must balance the needs of displaced residents with park owners’ property rights.

Bunney said the county also must consider the economic development benefits of converting mobile home parks to commercial and industrial uses.

Goings said the moratorium would allow the county time to develop long-term solutions. He said the county has used moratoriums for billboards and other purposes in the past.

At least part of Goings’ plan will proceed. The county next year will consider more permissive zoning for mobile home parks in urban areas.

David Wickert: 253-274-7341

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