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Written by Administrator   
Wednesday, 06 August 2008
 
 
Dear Members of the Planning Board,
 
Thank you so much for your interest in the people of Orchard Grove. One Tuesday night I decided to join no less that seven other people who spoke publicly to the City Council about their concerns for the Orchard Grove people by reading the state of Colorado's declaration by the General Assembly regarding the preservation of mobile home parks.  (at the bottom of this page) As much as many of us have researched for our cause, none of us had come across that declaration until it was sent to me by an attorney with ACLU. 

I also thanked the City Council for the 7 to 2 vote in favor of initiating the process of rezoning. I believe that the 2 opposing voters made it clear that they favor protection of the people of OG but were concerned about negative side effects of rezoning and would like to wait for more info coming in a report from the  department of Housing and Human Services. The co-director, John Pollak, and his staff were assigned to research for all possible options to the OG issue. The council members are all concerned for the well being of the residents of OG but fear the potential negative side effects of a potentially vindictive owner and/or the possibility of a new buyer such as the much unwanted Uniprop corporation. Raised rents by the owner may easily force a high percentage of the very low income residents to lose their homes and a corp like Uniprop typically raises rents in order to force as many old home owners out in order to get their own new manufactured homes in the park. 

The best possible scenario as I personally see it would be to rezone not just the 27 acres but also the undeveloped 5 acres as well  for mobile home use only. Once that is done, in accordance with the Comprehensive Plan, we feel that we would then have the opportunity to find a way to purchase the Park with the help of investors and/or national non-profit orgs founded to do so, but fear that the owner(s) may not be reasonable or compassionate and that they may also feel that they've lost a lot of money for the rezoning. Right now we need to find a way to protect the most vulnerable amongst us, the seniors on fixed income, the disabled, the very low income, the refugees from Bosnia and/or other countries, and those households working multiple jobs to pay off their mortgages, investments made in the sincere belief that this OG park would never be developed. If they new it could be sold at any time, who would have invested in a home here that they can't even take with them? I'm not thinking of only myself, I didn't even think to ask if the Park was permanent and whether or not it could at anytime be sold. I never thought to ask if there were laws in place that would prevent the moving of the home. Or that there isn't any space left in Boulder county to move to or what the prohibitive costs of moving are even if there were a place and the law allowed it. I didn't inquire of or think those things through. I am able bodied and will survive this no matter what, but I cannot say that for too many of the others who have limited means and who needs this community as much as this community wants to keep and protect them here.

I've been meeting so many people who were told that this Park would never be redeveloped or sold to a corporation, or were led to believe all's secure here and there's nothing to worry about. I haven't gone to work in over a month, with the blessings of my employers/friends, in order to give voice for those who haven't the means, to help my neighbors organize, and to take the time to do research in hopes of finding a way for all the happy members of this thriving and diverse community to stay here and continue to sustain their American dreams. 

And I've also been meeting some of the most dedicated, talented, and compassionate people I have ever met, right here in my own backyard, so to speak. This crisis has also been a blessing in many ways. New friendships are being forged as we bring out the best in one another in our struggle for the cause. 
Blessed are we who are united.

Just wanted to say THANKS for your interest,

Sincerely,
Richard Carey
(303)440-8282
 
 

38-12-201.3. Legislative declaration - increased availability of mobile home parks.


The general assembly hereby finds and declares that mobile homes, manufactured housing, and factory-built housing are important and effective ways to meet Colorado's affordable housing needs. The general assembly encourages local governments to allow and protect mobile home parks in their jurisdictions and to enact plans to increase the number of mobile home parks in their jurisdictions. The general assembly further encourages local governments to provide incentives to mobile home park owners to attract additional mobile home parks and to increase the viability of current parks.

Source: L. 2005: Entire section added, p. 110, § 4, effective August 8.

 

 
Last Updated ( Thursday, 07 August 2008 )
 
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