City Council Approves Special, One-Year Permit for RV in Mixed Zoning Neighborhood

San Angelo resident Jesus Tellez Tuesday came before City Council once again to seek a special permit, which will allow him to set up and live in an RV for a period not to exceed a year while he builds a permanent residence on the same property.

Currently, City code does not address RVs, defined differently than mobile homes, but does specify that “placement of mobile homes within the Zoning Ordinance is limited to Manufactured Housing Subdivision (MHS) and Manufactured Housing Park (MHP) zoning districts, or properties with an active and approved Special Permit,” a City memo states.

Previously, special permits have been issued permitting the presence of mobile homes in other zoning districts, however some Council members were concerned that complications with enforcement witnessed in previous permit holders might become issue again should the permit be issued.

Councilwoman Charlotte Farmer was concerned that staff would not be able to keep up with and certify that the provisions are met. She cited a previous allowance that was to last for two years that has now long exceeded the permit’s period.

Councilman Winkie Wardlaw reiterated Farmer’s concerns. “I just want to let the record show that I am totally against this,” he said, noting that city ordinances don’t allow for mobile homes or RVs in residential neighborhoods. “That’s not the only one, in my opinion, of mobile homes that are past their one-year permission.”

Councilman Marty Self, in whose district the mobile home would stand, said he had no problem with issuing the permit, as long as the requestor is aware that the allowance will only last a year.  The initial request for the permit came before Council in December 2013, but Council advised that Tellez meet with Self in order to discuss the possibilities with the councilman and how it might affect his district.

Tuesday, Council voted to permit the resident to set up an RV on his property for a period not to exceed one year, with all in favor except Wardlaw.  

Included in the approval are provisions that include a requirement the RV meet all city standards for manufactured housing; that the RV cease to be a dwelling unit within one year; both the mobile home and residential unit be in the middle of the lot so as to create distance between neighboring properties; and that the permanent resident not be another mobile or manufactured home.