From trailers to townhomes: Star City tables rezoning request

STAR CITY - Town Council voted Tuesday to table a zoning amendment request because members wanted more time to study the issue.

Springdale LLC wants the town to rezone Star Haven Manufactured Home Community along Somerset Street from Class A Residential/single family to Class B Residential/multiple family. Jakob Godfrey, owner of Springdale LLC and Star Haven, attended Tuesday's council meeting to explain his purpose for the request.

Godfrey said he bought the mobile home park five years ago and has learned the infrastructure, which was installed in the 1960s, has many problems and would cost a significant amount to update and keep the trailer park going.

He said one issue is that all mobile homes are connected to the same water meter. If there's an issue in one home, it's in all. Godfrey said if pipes freeze in one trailer, it takes out water to all, adding that last winter, none of the homes had running water for eight days. Contributing to that issue is the fact some of the water pipes were not buried below the frost line, making them more susceptible to freezing.

Add to that, the pipes are old and just three inches in diameter, and Godfrey said there is a clog to deal with at least once a week.

In addition to owning the park, Springdale LLC also owns about 70% of the 30 trailers still there. Those are rented back to residents.

Godfrey, who was born and raised in Star City, wants to dismantle the trailer park and build townhomes. He said about 26 townhomes would be built in the footprint of the 42-trailer park. Those homes would be sold, not rented. There would be a home owners association run by his business.

Godfrey said he is working with current residents individually to relocate them and no one would be left homeless.

That was one concern of several Star City residents who wrote or spoke against the rezoning request.

Mayor Sharon Doyle started Tuesday's public hearing for the request by reading four letters or emails, all opposing the project. Three pieces of correspondence were signed by individuals. The fourth was from 10 residents, including one who also sent one of the individual messages.

In addition, two women attending the meeting spoke against the request. Most voiced concerns about more traffic, loss of affordable housing and having rentals where homeowners now live.

Godfrey disputed those concerns by explaining more about his plans: There will be fewer homes and they will be sold, not rented.

Doyle said all property owners adjacent to the trailer park were notified of the public hearing via certified letters.

Town attorney Tim Stranko said Star City Planning Commission was charged with looking over the plan and making a recommendation to council to approve or not. However, during the process the commission determined the town's comprehensive plan does not address such a request. Commission members decided they could not make a recommendation either way and turned the entire matter over to town council.

Councilor Jim Morris asked Stranko what approving the request would mean for future rezoning requests. Stranko said all requests would be considered on their own merit and approving this one would not set a precedent.

Public Works Director Philip Davis was asked if he agreed with Godfrey's assessment of the infrastructure. Davis noted that it's private property so the town does not work on it, but he does know it is dated.

Council member Andy Laskody said he thought they needed more time to study all angles of the request before making a decision and that could not be done at one council meeting. All members agreed and decided to table the issue until the next meeting set for 6 p.m. Oct. 20.