Orange County NC Website
18 <br /> 1 • Mobile Home Park Recommendations <br /> 2 <br /> 3 Recommendation 4: Greene Tract (Long Term) <br /> 4 • Orange County, the Town of Chapel Hill, and the Town of Carrboro elected officials and <br /> 5 staff continue to explore affordable housing opportunities on the Greene Tract, with a <br /> 6 focus on alternatives for displaced mobile home park residents and utilization of a <br /> 7 portion of the Greene Tract. <br /> 8 • If this process is pursued, County funds allocated for mobile home parks may be <br /> 9 put towards infrastructure improvements, site preparation, construction, and/or <br /> 10 housing. <br /> 11 • May require the County to initiate a Request for Proposal (RFP) process, similar <br /> 12 to the RFPs initiated for the 2016 Affordable Housing Bond Funds. <br /> 13 <br /> 14 Recommendations: <br /> 15 The Manager recommends that the Board: <br /> 16 1. Receive the presentation; <br /> 17 2. Discuss as appropriate; and <br /> 18 3. Endorse the recommendations contained in Attachment 4. <br /> 19 <br /> 20 Commissioner Price said she hoped the County would work together with the Towns. <br /> 21 Craig Benedict said the Town of Chapel Hill is participating. <br /> 22 Bonnie Hammersley said the Towns are very interested in this strategy, and asked that <br /> 23 this presentation be made at a future affordable housing meeting. <br /> 24 Commissioner Jacobs said #3 should be called, "Manufactured Housing Community <br /> 25 Development," as mobile home is a stigmatized phrase. <br /> 26 Commissioner Marcoplos said he likes the idea of a new name, and said he is a big fan <br /> 27 of site built homes due to the employment opportunities. <br /> 28 Commissioner Marcoplos referred to the community in Charlottesville, and said this is an <br /> 29 incredible idea. <br /> 30 Chair Dorosin said developers have no incentive to build affordable housing in mobile <br /> 31 home parks, as the land is so valuable. He said the surveys contain important information, <br /> 32 especially regarding residents desire to stay in their mobile homes. He said he likes the short- <br /> 33 term and long-term recommendations, but one piece is missing: if one of these parks is sold, it <br /> 34 will happen very quickly, and there needs to be some type of emergency re-location plan. <br /> 35 Commissioner Jacobs asked if Sherrill Hampton came across the survey that was done <br /> 36 in the early 2000s of mobile home parks. <br /> 37 Craig Benedict said there was an inventory done about 15 years ago, which was <br /> 38 included in this current survey process. <br /> 39 Sherrill Hampton said recommendation #1 would allow mobile home park owners to <br /> 40 apply for funding to fix issues such as wells and septic tanks. <br /> 41 Commissioner Jacobs asked if staff can they track what has changed in 15 years. He <br /> 42 said Orange County is one of the most liberal counties in the state in that it allows <br /> 43 manufactured housing in most zoning areas. <br /> 44 Commissioner Jacobs said if the County is going to loan money to a community <br /> 45 operator, then the County should specify their standards, which the community will be expected <br /> 46 to meet. He said if the County is going to invest funding, the park owner cannot pass any costs <br /> 47 along to the tenants, as the owner has not incurred the cost. <br /> 48 Sherrill Hampton said that would be in the agreements, and this can be brought back to <br /> 49 the Board of County Commissioners for review. <br />