From Deseret News archives:
Council votes to freeze mobile-home parks' status
But Millcreek residents will still be displaced
Owners of Park Hill Mobile Home Estates in Millcreek, who want to build condominiums where two dozen mobile homes now sit, have told homeowners to move out. The action has prompted protests by homeowners who say their homes are too old to move and that they don't have money to cover what could be considerable moving expenses for many of them.
For the past two weeks the County Council has been trying to find a way to balance the owners' right to use the property as they see fit as well as establish policy to counter the disappearance of affordable housing.
Finding its options limited and difficult, the county decided to put things on hold for a while.
"There are so few mobile home parks left in the unincorporated county (nine) that we need to freeze things," Councilman Russell Skousen said.
Nevertheless, the moratorium only applies to issuance of permits for new housing, deputy district attorney Tom Christensen said. It won't stop Park Hill owners from kicking out the tenants and reducing the site to bare ground in anticipation of a permit.
Co-owner/developer Mike Miller said the council is unfairly targeting him as well as unnecessarily complicating things.
"We're willing to work with (residents)," he said. "We don't want to play hardball . . . We have been working this out on our own."
Miller did not take kindly to the fact that he was first informed of the vote by a reporter rather than someone from the county.
"The bottom line is the trailer park won't be a trailer park the minute we can change it," he said. "We're not going to change our minds. We're going to move forward."
As is usual in such cases, Miller and his partner have been cast in the role of villains, cold-heartedly shoving out residents. County officials point out that the developers have offered mitigation: $1,500 in moving expense assistance (residents maintain that is far below what is needed), an indefinite extension of the original Sept. 1 deadline, a $10,000 discount on condominium purchase for current residents and possible additional action.
During the moratorium the council will look into what it can do legally to stop or slow redevelopment of mobile home parks (though Christensen notes that "their remedies are limited") and whether it can offer cash assistance to residents who are forced out.
Sandy recently helped a group of mobile home residents in a similar situation with $5,000 each.
E-mail: aedwards@desnews.com
Comments
- Boys basketball rankings 6:26 p.m.
- Nordqvist wins at LPGA 6:15 p.m.
- S.L. could up fees to rec facilities 5:55 p.m.
- Utah GOP opposes ethics initiative 5:45 p.m.
- Alternative to climate change? 5:40 p.m.
- Utah sells most 'New Moon' tickets 5:39 p.m.
- The origins of Thanksgiving Day 5:07 p.m.
- Test your Thanksgiving Day IQ 5:07 p.m.
- Fun facts about Thanksgiving 5:06 p.m.
- Words of thanks 5:06 p.m.
- Real Champions
- Bronco, Kyle rubber match
- RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
- Plenty on line for rivalry game
- BCS at-large bids up for grabs
- Time for big matchups in WAC, MWC
- Protests against Phoenix LDS temple
- Hall, Johnson matchup key
- Is talking about religion taboo?
- BYU's Lamb, Jorgensen reprimanded
- Buttars wants to limit gay rights laws
214 - Glenn Beck to enter politics?
212 - RSL wins MLS Cup on penalty kicks
192 - Palin plans tour stop in Utah
178 - BYU records with win
132 - Palin's book shows she's unqualified
131 - Bronco, Kyle rubber match
118 - Officer cleared in Cardall Taser case
103 - BYU cuts Women's Research Inst.
103 - Jazz finally win in San Antonio
99
Are you a small business owner who can't afford a holiday party this year?
how could you find an article about this "trash". Some of us are interested...
HAHA. well if anything, the comments just negate the negative review on this...
It is religious ZEALOTS attacking secular Americans. Their ridiculous war on...
Agreed, what does this comment add to the discussion? Zip. Well, a recent...
Here here! People shouldn't be so quick to throw stones and to say that...
To charles: I said absolutely nothing derogatory about Gov. Palin, merely...
@1st Pagan 8:09 a.m.: "Why would I vote someone for president when they...
Thanks for the uplifting article. I appreciate the update on both of them....
I know one thing, when BYU "fan" is scared they attack. Hey BYU fan, you have...
"Temples are a place where the LDS congregation congregates, aren't they?"...


You can be the first to comment on this story.