Following continued community concerns from manufactured home residents about losing their parks to new development, Sequim city councilors have directed staff to investigate zoning and moratorium options on how to preserve those parks.

On June 12, councilors voted 5-0 — with Mayor Tom Ferrell and councilor Kathy Downer excused from the meeting — to fast-track a manufactured home zoning overlay, and research moratorium options for only allowing manufactured/mobile home use in their current areas.

City staff were first directed in November to investigate manufactured home zoning, and they found a few cities that enforced Mobile Home Park (MHP) overlay zones that preserve those properties and prevent redevelopment.

In Bothell, the overlay limits development to mobile home parks unless a comprehensive plan amendment for another type of land use is requested and eventually adopted, according to Sequim officials.

Sequim staff reported that creating an MHP overlay is possible, but they’d have to align it with the city’s Comprehensive Plan, Municipal Code and land maps, while undergoing required reviews and other processes.

To create an overlay without a moratorium and align it with city policies and procedures, it would take until 2026, said Charisse Deschenes, deputy city manager and director of community and economic development.

In Kenmore, it took a year-and-a-half to adopt an overlay, according to City of Sequim staff.

City councilor Vicki Lowe referenced Bellingham’s Manufactured Home Park overlay that was adopted in October 2022; their city council first enforced a moratorium on redevelopment of manufactured home parks in June 2019 and continued them while updating their comprehensive and municipal codes.

“People are here now worried they are about to lose their home and we’re talking about two years from now,” Lowe said.

She asked why a moratorium wasn’t included in a proposal.

“You’re saying it’s too big to do. I don’t feel we’re having the right sense of urgency for these people,” she said.

Deschenes said staff can look into a moratorium and see with the city’s legal team what options would be available.

Sequim city manager Matt Huish said Deschenes took over the council request earlier this year following staff turnover while they were waiting on potential legislation.

“We thought it was going to come through,” he said.

Provisions

Last year, large groups of manufactured home park residents in and around Sequim started advocating to city councilors and Clallam County commissioners for provisions on rent/lease control as many have said they’re on fixed incomes and unable to move if needed.

Legislation this year did not pass limiting rent/lease increases (SB 5435, HB 1389) on manufactured home parks.

SB 5198 and HB 1129 did pass, however, with lawmakers requiring landlords to provide notice before listing a park for sale and three years notice when closing or converting it to a different land use. Additionally, tenants can be compensated for relocation costs up to the value of their home.

In January, Sequim city councilors agreed to update the Sequim Municipal Code so that all tenants of condominiums and manufactured homes will be notified when construction projects are proposed near them in the city.

Previously, land and property owners within 300 feet of the proposed project would be notified of an application and pending meetings and comment periods but some tenants said they weren’t being notified.

Several residents testified at the June 12 meeting about buyers purchasing manufactured home parks and developing them into more expensive housing or something else and leaving them without options.

Doug Wright, a manufactured home resident and advocate, said it was time for council to act and create a manufactured home park overlay as soon as possible.

He said SB 5198 “does nothing to preserve the park being there.”

“Nothing in 5198 will stop someone from buying or selling a mobile home park,” Wright said, but an overlay would prevent a home park from being developed into a shopping mall.

Councilor William Armacost said there is some breathing room for residents, as legislators are placing guardrails to protect tenants from redevelopment, and the costs and provisions to redevelop manufactured home parks would likely be too much for developers.

“Yes, it’s possible (to pay for a redevelopment) if you have enough capital, but most business people want to see a return on their investment,” Armacost said.

Councilor Lowell Rathbun said he regards housing as a human right and part of the city council’s job is to safeguard those rights.

He said the council’s options include creating a mobile home park zone, advocating for legislative action, rent control (which was voted down in the legislature), and/or using funds from House Bill 1590 — a one-tenth of 1 percent sales and use tax for tenant emergencies to prevent evictions and homelessness.

City attorney Kristina Nelson-Gross said the council does not hold rent control capabilities. HB 1406 funds can be used for rent, Nelson-Gross said but, she cautioned using it for rent assistance as “it may not account for a large portion of people here today.”

Councilor Rachel Anderson said she was in support of a moratorium on only allowing manufactured/mobile home use in their designated areas.

“Whatever we can do with more urgency,” she said.