Minutes-08/08/1984

Birtcher: The Legislature passed this law because it felt towns were discriminating against manufactured homes. There is a prejudice here in that someone doesn't like oblong houses against square houses. What is the problem? It was never against ordinance. Attorney: In the present situation with the zoning ordinance, no restrictions on manufactured homes. City has not adopted State Code for building ordinance. The concern seems to be aesthetics. The courts will look hard at any efforts to completely exclude manufactured homes. Council could set reasonable standards. Nothing now on books to prohibit manufactured homes. When was home manufactured? Birtcher: 1984. I can provide proof. Potter: This is an R-2 zone. Could she put in two of them? Attorney: Zoning restrictions are fairly simple - frontage, side yard, height, parking. As long as stay within these guidelines there is no problem. I haven't thought about putting up as two separate buildings. Spivey: Couldn't put two site built homes on lot and use as rent houses. Our ordinance covers that. Morgan: What will you put it on? Birtcher: Poured cement runners, posts or pillars 42 inches in the ground and 8 feet apart. That decision has yet to be made and will be done the best way possible. Sewer, water and gas are already into lot. That has to be considered. Contractor didn't think slab would be necessary. Morgan: Will it sit long ways? Birtcher: Yes. It has masonite siding and a pitched roof. Stevens: How does this compare to person who wanted to do this before? Cox: The law was just changed July 1st. Attorney: If council had bona fide ordinance proposed at that time that addressed this, it could have put a stay on all applications pending approval of that ordinance. Other communities are doing this. They can put aside all requests. Was not aware of any previous applications. Don't see what there was in present ordinance that would have prohibited mobile or manufactured homes from going in anywhere. There is nothing that says trailers can only be in trailer courts. Ordinance defines and set standards. Ordinance is not now very prohibitive. Stevens: Terms were that only trailers on mobile home courts. Attorney: Didn't see that limitation. Potter: Can we stop that in the future? Attorney: Can place legal restrictions. Iowa City is using a legal and acceptable way and is also simple.