Dana Point : Progress Reported in Mobile Home Dispute

A city-appointed task force to resolve a long-simmering mobile home park dispute is making progress, and a solution may be reached in early July, according to City Councilman Mike Eggers.

The City Council had taken action after six months of complaints from residents of Dana Point Marina Mobilehome Estates on Del Obispo Street, near Coast Highway. The park residents, mostly retired people on fixed incomes, had told the City Council that they could not afford rent increases being sought by the landowner.

“We’ve held two very productive meetings and resolved many of the concerns and misunderstandings between the residents and the new owner of the park,” said Eggers, who is a member of the task force along with Councilman Bill Bamattre. “. . . After months of legal battles and bitter feelings, we’ve got people sitting down talking instead of screaming.”

Eggers said a third meeting of the task force, tenants and landowner is scheduled on July 12. “I think we may be able to finalize this at that meeting.”

Earlier this month, the city staff issued a report on the controversy, offering three options:

- Do nothing because the dispute “is a private matter that does not involve an overriding public policy issue.”

- Consider a rent-control ordinance.

- Consider condemning the property under eminent domain and purchasing the mobile home park.

Eggers said on Tuesday that the City Council is opposed to either seeking rent control for the park or for condemning the land. “But we didn’t want to slam the door in these people’s faces either, and so we are trying to work out a solution with both sides,” he added.

The mobile home dispute first came before the City Council at its first meeting in January, after Dana Point officially became a city, and was “the first major crisis to come before city government,” he said.

The park has 90 spaces and about 150 residents, according to Eggers.