City to study rules for relocation

Deirdre Newman

A groundswell of discontent from distressed residents at two mobile

home parks that are being converted has inspired city leaders to

consider creating more specific requirements for converting parks

into other uses.

Joe Brown plans to close the El Nido and Snug Harbor Village

trailer parks to put up a medical office building. He has already

given closure notices to the residents of both parks, alarming many

residents who claim they are not being offered fair compensation to

relocate.

As it is, the city cannot deny an application for a mobile home

park conversion permit or prevent a property owner from closing a

mobile home park. All it is required to do is review a report

required by the state analyzing the effects of the conversion or

closure on the residents. It may then impose measures the property

owner must take to lessen negative effects without exceeding “the

reasonable costs of relocation.”

Since neither the city’s rules nor state law provides a

comprehensive description of what the report should contain, the

council will explore some options and examine other cities’

ordinances.

“What I’m hoping is that we’ll get an understanding of what our

role is within the state law and a realization that we actually do

have some ability to affect people’s lives and how they are treated

as mobile home parks are converted,” Councilwoman Libby Cowan said.

Brown is offering to pay owners up to $3,000 to move to another

park. But many residents are not thrilled with the offer. They claim

it’s not nearly enough to cover the investment they have made over

the years. They are trying to obtain what they consider fair market

value for their homes.

On May 23, a handful of residents from Snug Harbor and El Nido met

with Cowan to express their frustration at their predicament and at

the city’s lack of more concrete rules. Cowan said she would start

the ball rolling for an ordinance, but it probably wouldn’t affect

their situation since that wouldn’t be fair to Brown, who has already

started the conversion process.

“We’re going to show support because Costa Mesa needs it,” said

Dorothy Harmer, a nine-year El Nido resident. “But whether it will do

any good for us, I don’t know.”

Monday, the council will consider questions like: Should the

ordinance contain provisions to compensate for mobile homes that

cannot be relocated to another park because of age, condition or

both? Should a radius be specified within which residents have to be

relocated? And should the city contract directly with the relocation

specialist for preparation of the relocation plan?

El Nido and Snug Harbor residents have touted conversion

ordinances in Huntington Beach and Laguna Beach as good models. They

have also supplied city leaders with a model ordinance endorsed by

the Golden State Manufactured-Home Owners League.

The council could direct staff to make changes to the rules or it

could decide that the city’s regulations suffice and no changes are

required.