The County Commission ended its moratorium on mobile home park projects Tuesday after approving changes to density and other development requirements.
Some zoning changes, such as M-1 District zoning, will only apply to those properties already having an M-1 designation. If a future developer wants to develop a manufactured home subdivision, they can do so through a Planned Development document, zoning staff wrote in their report to the commission.
The amendments to Chapter 12, Land Development Regulations also address the question of sewage treatment in mobile home and RV parks. According to the rules approved Tuesday, private wastewater treatment plants are allowed – with conditions – where public water and wastewater systems are not available.
According to Planning and Zoning Board of Adjustment Chairman Frank Youngman, the new rules iron out requirements for package plants and sewer connections. If the mobile home development is more than a mile from a sewage treatment plant, the developer can install an onsite package treatment plant.
“If someone wants to build a mobile home park and a sewer line is close by, they are required to hook into that system – that stays the same,” Youngman said. “You can still have an onsite package wastewater facility, but it’s going to have some revisions.”
The developer has to assume the cost of installing the connection and line to the sewage treatment plant, Youngman said.
Before installing a package plant, the rules state, the developer must obtain a comprehensive engineering report that demonstrates that a connection to public utilities is not technically and economically feasible. The developer also must submit engineering plans and drawings that meet all applicable state and federal standards for design, construction and operation.
Another key section of the new rules concern disaster shelters requirements: Disaster shelters in mobile home and RV parks must contain a kitchen; have generators that can power the entire shelter for 72 hours or until power is restored, and must have a dedicated area in the shelter for residents’ household pets.
Among the other changes to mobile home park requirements:
New M-2 Parks will be Flexible Unit Developments, in the same manner as is required for new RV Parks.
RVs, and any attachment thereto, must be completely located within the parking pad area of the lot.
Increases minimum park area from five acres to 20 acres.
Increases the minimum lot (rental space) size requirements from 40 feet in width and 4,000 square feet in area to 50 feet in width and 4,500 square feet.
Specifies a height limitation for any required disaster shelter.
Increases setbacks for front and corners, from 10 to 15 feet, measured from the edge of pavement, and other expanded space requirements.
Requires fire hydrants no more than 800 feet apart.
