(A) Purpose.
(1) It is the intent of this section to encourage the provision of alternative modest income housing in general residential areas by permitting mobile homes. Mobile homes are recognized as a viable form of residential housing.
(2) Mobile home parks are permitted as a special exception in the following districts subject to prior approval of a development plan by the Plan Commission: A2, CC and CG. In considering a mobile home development plan, the Plan Commission shall ensure that the development requirements for a mobile home and a mobile home park are as specified below.
(B) Development standards (*denotes applicability to individual mobile homes and parks). The minimum area of a mobile home park shall be five acres.
(1) The park shall be located on a well drained properly graded site to ensure rapid drainage and prevent stagnant pools of water. The Plan Commission may, as part of its approval of a development plan, require curbs, gutters or catch basins, when in the opinion of the Commission, drainage mechanisms for surface water proposed by the developer are insufficient to properly carry surface water. Surface drainage as approved by the Plan Commission shall be installed and maintained by the developer or its successors in interest.
*(2) Development standards for individual mobile homes and lots shall also comply with the development standards for each district where mobile homes are allowed in this chapter.
(3) A mobile home park shall be screened continuously along all park boundary lines, except at established entrances and exits, by a landscaped strip at least five feet wide, designed and planted with evergreen trees or shrubs at least six feet high after one full growing season, and which at maturity are at least ten feet high. The vegetation should form a year round dense screen and shall be set and selected to assure 80% opacity, and maintained in good condition at all times.
(4) Each park shall provide a recreational area or areas equal in size to at least 8% of the area of the park. Streets, parking areas, drainage facilities, floodplains and park service facility areas shall not be included in the required recreational area.
(5) Coin-operated laundries, laundry and dry cleaning pick-up stations, and other commercial convenience establishments may be permitted in mobile home parks, provided that:
(a) They are subordinate to the residential character of the park;
(b) They are located, designed and intended to serve only persons living in the park;
(c) The establishments and associated parking areas shall not occupy more than 10% of the total area of the park; and
(d) The establishments shall not be visible outside the park.
(6) Each park shall provide either one central waterproof structure available to all mobile home site residents or a single waterproof structure for each mobile home site, suitable for storage of goods and the usual effects of persons occupying the park.
(7) All exterior park lights shall be located and shielded to prevent direct illumination of any areas outside of the park exceeding .01 footcandle.
(8) Mobile home sites shall be a minimum of 5,000 square feet in area and in no case shall a mobile home park exceed a density of seven units per gross acre.
(9) Each mobile home site shall have a minimum width of 50 feet.
(10) The minimum distance between a mobile home and another mobile home or structure shall be 30 feet.
*(11) Each mobile home site shall be provided with a stand consisting of either a solid concrete slab or two concrete ribbons adequate to support the maximum anticipated loads during all seasons. When concrete ribbons are used, the area between the ribbons shall be filled with a layer of crushed rock. Each stand shall be provided with an anchoring for each corner of its mobile home able to sustain a minimum tensile strength of 2,800 pounds.
(12) No mobile home shall be located closer to any mobile home park boundary line than 50 feet. In the event that the park shall abut a public street or highway, the standard setback lines for the road as established for conventional housing in the district shall prevail.
*(13) Foundation skirting shall completely enclose the undercarriage of each mobile home with a non-decaying, non-corroding material extending at least six inches into the ground or into impervious material.
*(14) Each mobile home site shall be provided with two adjacent parking spaces which shall have unobstructed access to a mobile home park street. No on-street parking shall be permitted on streets built to non-dedication standards.
(15) Common walks at least four feet wide shall be provided around all recreational and service facility areas. No required walks shall be used as drainageways. All mobile home stands shall be connected to common walks, paved streets or paved driveways or parking spaces connecting to a paved street. Individual walks shall be at least three feet wide.
(16) Street construction within the park shall comply with street construction standards of the governmental unit in which the mobile home park is located.
(17) No individual mobile home within a mobile home park shall have direct vehicular access to any public street. All access shall be from an improved street or driveway within the park.
(18) All entrances to mobile home parks shall be constructed in an attractive manner as specified in county subdivision regulations The name of the park shall be adequately designated in an aesthetically pleasing manner. Street names and addresses be clearly visible and adequate facilities for mail of the park’s residents shall be provided.
(C) Limitations on use.
(1) All mobile homes located in a mobile home park shall only be used for residential purposes.
(2) No mobile home site shall be rented in any mobile home park except for periods of 30 days or longer.
(Ord. passed 7-20-1992)