Mobile homes in Drayton Valley could soon be subject to a new set of rules. Last week town council took a first look at a draft bylaw laying out a set of architectural controls for mobile homes in the community.
The background information attached to the bylaw says that “council is concerned that the physical condition, habitability and visual appearance of some of the manufactured homes (MFHs) in the manufactured home parks and in other areas in the Town has deteriorated over the years.”
As a possible solution, administration brought forward a list of eight proposed design controls covering areas such as landscaping and building materials. Also included is a proposal to limit the age of homes that are to be moved into a mobile home park to 25 years.
Ken Woitt, the Town’s General Manager of Planning and Growth said he had been in contact with the owners of the various mobile home parks in town, as well as the owners of the homes themselves.
“Most people understand what we’re trying to do,” he said.
Woitt added that mobile homes that were already located in a park would not be subject to the age restriction but would be grandfathered in.
Council gave first reading to the bylaw, which will now be subject to revisions before going to a public hearing. Councillors had some suggested changes themselves.
Councillor Amila Gammana asked if the bylaw could lay out standards for roadways within mobile home parks. Meanwhile Mayor Nancy Dodds said she was concerned about the idea of allowing mobiles as old as 25 to move into the community since they may then find themselves out of compliance with the building code, which was brought in in 2007.
“I’d be interested in looking at 15 years,” she said.
The bylaw is expected to be back before council for further discussion in September.
