HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008 - Zoning changed to CommercialShady Rest Mobile Park may join Sebastian, change zoning to commercial : TCPalm.... Page 1 of 2
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Shady Rest Mobile Park may join Sebastian,
change zoning to commercial
By Ed Bierschenk
Monday. January 21 2008
SEBASTIAN — Residents of the Shady Rest Mobile Park are concerned about their
future as the park's owner seeks to annex into the city and have the land zoned for
commercial use.
The Sebastian City Council could take the issue up at its last meeting in February. The
city's Planning and Zoning Commission has recommended it be zoned for commercial
use with a land -use designation of riverfront mixed use.
The city's Growth Management staff also is prepared to recommend approval of the
annexation "as a natural extension of our city boundaries, with conditions to be
imposed by City Council."
A possible condition to the annexation agreement may be to allow no redevelopment of
the property for a five-year period.
Park resident Carol Binka said quite a few residents believe the application for
annexation into the city is a way to get around Indian River County's new tougher
zoning regulations.
Binka said converting the land into some other use would be both a financial hardship
and loss of lifestyle for her and other residents of the mobile home park — many of
whom are elderly.
The county's new regulations require mobile home park owners to petition to amend
the land -use designation if they plan on having the park used for other purposes. In the
past, the owners would only need to seek a rezoning if they planned to sell or develop
it for condominiums or subdivisions.
Obtaining a change in the land -use designation is much more time consuming and
difficult, according to Indian River County Community Development Director Bob
Keating.
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Shady Rest Mobile Park may join Sebastian, change zoning to commercial: TCPahn.... Page 2 of 2
Park Manager Jim Williams said there are no definite plans for the site, but expressed
opposition to a five-year moratorium on redevelopment. He contended it would be an
economic hardship on the owners who would see their taxes rise once the land is
zoned for commercial use.
Williams, who also lives at the park, said damages caused by the 2004 hurricanes and
the housing downturn caused the owners to look at trying something else with the land.
'We are just barely breaking even," he said.
Prior to the hurricanes, the park had 117 occupied units. Currently, he said there are
about 78 occupied units at the park.
Williams said he feels sorry for the residents who will be displaced. He said everyone
who comes to look at the park is told that they don't know what may happen to the park
in the next couple of years.
"It's a tough issue for sure," said City Manager Al Minner.
On one hand, he said, people who live at the park feel they are having the carpet
pulled out from under them, while at the same time who have the owner who wants to
be able to develop his property.
Keating said the development may find itself under increased scrutiny from the state
Department of Community Affairs. Under new guidelines, he said, the department will
want to know about the availability of other affordable housing within the area for
people displaced from the mobile home park.
ftl® 2008 Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers
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