It is the purpose of this chapter to enforce
minimum standards for mobile homes and mobile home parks to promote
the public health, safety and welfare; to establish requirements for
the design, construction, alteration, extension, operation, and maintenance
of mobile homes and mobile home parks and related utilities and facilities;
to require the issuance of permits for construction, alteration and
extension of mobile homes and mobile home parks; to authorize the
inspection of mobile homes and mobile home parks; to regulate the
location of mobile homes; and to fix penalties for violations.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
All structures constructed on a mobile home lot apart from
the basic mobile home unit and shall include awnings, cabanas, storage
cabinets (or sheds), carports, windbreaks, attached porches and garages.
COMMON AREA
Any area of space designed for joint use of tenants occupying
the mobile home park.
DRIVEWAY
A minor private way used by vehicles and pedestrians on a
mobile home lot or used for common access to a small group of lots
or facilities.
LICENSE
A written license issued by the Town of Grand Chute allowing
a person to operate and maintain a mobile home park under the provisions
of this chapter and regulations issued hereunder.
LOT AREA
The total area reserved for exclusive use of the occupants
of a mobile home.
MOBILE HOME
A manufactured, transportable, single-family dwelling unit,
suitable for year-round occupancy, containing water supply, waste
disposal and electrical conveniences and which is ready for occupancy
except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations
at the site and as defined in § 66.0435(1)(d), Wis. Stats.
MOBILE HOME LOT
A parcel of land for the placement of a single mobile home
and the exclusive use of its occupants.
MOBILE HOME PARK
A parcel of land which has been developed for the placement
of mobile homes and is owned by an individual, a firm, trust, partnership,
public or private association or corporation.
MOBILE HOME STAND
That part of an individual lot which has been reserved for
the placement of one mobile home unit.
PARK MANAGEMENT
The person who owns or has charge, care or control of the
mobile home park.
PARK STREET
A private way which affords principal means of access to
individual mobile home lots or auxiliary buildings.
PERMIT
A written permit or certification issued by the Town Board
permitting the construction, alteration and extension of a mobile
home park under the provisions of this chapter and regulations issued
hereunder.
PERSON
Any individual, firm, trust, partnership, public or private
association or corporation.
TENANT STORAGE AREA
An enclosed space designed to provide auxiliary general storage
space for an individual mobile home.
TOWN BOARD
The Town Board of the Town of Grand Chute, Outagamie County,
Wisconsin.
Any person making application for a permit to
construct or expand a mobile home park shall meet the following design
and system requirements:
A. All design and system requirements contained in any
applicable provisions of any other chapters of the Town of Grand Chute
Code, §§ 66.0435, 101.94 and 101.96, Wis. Stats., and
any other applicable statutory or Administrative Code sections must
be satisfied; to the extent that any provision conflicts with this
chapter, the more restrictive provision shall apply.
B. Environmental requirements.
(1) Density. The maximum allowable density in a mobile
home park development shall be six units, or lots, per gross acre.
(2) Minimum lot size. Individual lots within the mobile
park must contain an area of not less than 3,600 square feet.
(3) Maximum lot coverage. The basic mobile home unit shall
not occupy in excess of 1/3 of the mobile home lot, and the complete
unit, including all accessory structures, shall not occupy more than
1/2 of the mobile home lot.
(4) Required separation between mobile homes. Mobile homes
shall be separated from each other and from other buildings and structures
by at least 15 feet. An accessory structure, such as an awning, cabana,
storage cabinet, carport, windbreak, or porch attached to the mobile
home, shall, for purposes of separation requirements, be considered
a part of the mobile home. Detached accessory structures shall be
allowed only if included and approved as part of the original or revised
mobile home park plan.
(5) Setback and buffer strips. Each mobile home shall
be located at least five feet from any mobile home lot line.
(a)
There shall be a minimum distance of 10 feet
between the mobile home stand and abutting park street right-of-way.
(b)
The mobile homes shall be set back a minimum
of 25 feet from public streets.
(c)
All mobile homes shall be located at least 40
feet from any park property boundary line, except where the adjoining
property is also a mobile home park.
(6) Screening.
(a)
All mobile home parks shall be provided with
screening of natural growth along the property boundary line separating
the park and such adjacent properties, except where the adjoining
property is also a mobile home park. The planting area shall have
a minimum width of 15 feet.
(b)
Within such a planting area there shall be established,
within six months after issue of the license for the occupation of
such mobile home park, the following plantings:
[1]
A temporary planting of fast-growing material
capable or reaching a height of 15 feet or more, such as Lombardy
poplar.
[2]
A permanent planting such as white or Norway
pine, the individual trees to be of such a number and so arranged
that within 10 years they will have formed a screen equivalent in
opacity to a solid fence or wall. Such permanent planting shall be
grown or maintained at a height of not less than 15 feet.
(7) Recreation areas.
(a)
In all mobile home parks there shall be one
or more recreation areas which shall be easily accessible to all park
residents.
(b)
The size of such recreation areas shall be based
upon a minimum of 200 square feet for each lot. No outdoor recreation
area shall contain less than 2,500 square feet.
(c)
Recreation areas shall be located so as to be
free of traffic hazards and should, where the topography permits,
be centrally located.
(8) Allowable uses.
(a)
Single-family mobile homes as defined by this
chapter shall be allowed and any approved accessory structures included
in the original plans and specifications, or revision thereof. Dependent
mobile homes shall specifically be prohibited from placement within
mobile home parks.
(b)
Parks, playgrounds and open space shall be allowed,
as well as the following commercial uses when they are for the exclusive
use of park residents:
[3]
Clubhouse and facilities for private, social
or recreation clubs.
(c)
Signs pertaining to the lease, hire or sale
of individual mobile homes, not more than two square feet in area,
shall be allowed, as well as one mobile home park identification sign
not more than 50 square feet in area, to be located in proximity to
the park entrance.
C. Access requirements.
(1) General requirements. All mobile home parks shall
be provided with safe and convenient vehicular access from abutting
public street or roads to each mobile home lot. Such access shall
be provided by streets, driveways, or other means.
(2) Road systems. All road systems shall comply with current
local adopted code.
(3) Park entrance. Entrances to mobile home parks shall
be designed to minimize congestion and hazards and allow free movement
of traffic on adjacent streets.
(4) Street construction and design standards.
(a)
Pavements. All streets shall be provided with
a smooth, hard and dense surface which shall be durable and well drained
under normal use and weather conditions. Pavement edges shall be protected
to prevent raveling of the wearing surface and shifting of the pavement
base.
(b)
Grades. Grades of all streets shall be sufficient
to ensure adequate surface drainage but shall not be more than 8%.
(c)
Intersections. Within 100 feet of an intersection,
streets shall be at approximately right angles. A distance of at least
150 feet shall be maintained between center lines of offset intersecting
streets. Intersections of more than two streets at one point shall
be avoided.
(5) Parking requirements. On-street parking, or parking in the street right-of-way, shall be prohibited, except as provided in Subsection
C(5)(d) below.
(a)
Occupant parking. A minimum of two parking spaces
shall be provided for occupant parking purposes. Such spaces shall
be located within 150 feet of the mobile home lot to be served.
(b)
Visitor parking. A minimum of one space for
every four mobile home lots shall be provided for visitor parking
purposes.
(c)
Parking space. Each parking space shall contain
a minimum of 200 square feet. The space shall be paved with a smooth,
hard and dense surface which shall be durable and well drained under
normal use and weather conditions.
(d)
Use of right-of-way for parking. In no instance
shall the required street pavement width be used for parking purposes.
The remaining right-of-way width, 10 feet on either side of the street
pavement, may be used for parking purposes only if the spaces are
perpendicular to the street.
(e)
Parking restrictions. Parking of boats, trailers,
campers, snowmobiles, or other similar vehicles shall be restricted
to an area provided by the park management specifically for said purpose.
(6) Walkways. All parks shall be provided with safe, convenient,
all-season pedestrian access of adequate width for intended use, durable
and convenient to maintain, between individual mobile homes, the park
streets and all community facilities provided for park residents.
Sudden changes in alignment and gradient should be avoided.
(a)
Common walk system. A common walk system shall
be provided and maintained between locations where pedestrian traffic
is concentrated. Such common walks shall have a minimum width of 3 1/2
feet.
(b)
Individual walks. All mobile home stands shall
be connected to common walks, to paved streets, or to paved driveways
or parking spaces connected to a paved street or roadway. Such individual
walks shall have a minimum width of two feet.
D. Mobile home stand. To the extent that this subsection
is ever held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be impermissibly
in conflict with § 101.96, Wis. Stats., this provision is
severable and the balance of the chapter shall remain intact. For
the purpose of this chapter, a mobile home stand shall be defined
as an area 15 feet by 70 feet. The area of the mobile home stand shall
be improved to provide adequate support for the placement and tie-down
of the mobile home, thereby securing the superstructure against uplift,
sliding, rotation and overturning.
(1) The mobile home stand shall not heave, shift or settle
unevenly under the weight of the mobile home due to frost action,
inadequate drainage, vibration or other forces acting on the structure.
(2) The mobile home stand shall be provided with anchors
and tie-downs such as cast-in-place concrete "dead men" eyelets embedded
in concrete foundations or runways, screw augers, arrowhead anchors,
or other devices securing the stability of the mobile home.
(3) Anchors and tie-downs shall be placed at least at
each corner of the mobile home stand, and each shall be able to sustain
a minimum tensile strength of 2,800 pounds.
E. Site suitability and stormwater drainage. Condition
of soil, groundwater level, drainage and topography shall not create
hazards to the property or the health or safety of the occupants.
The site shall not be exposed to objectionable smoke, noise, odors
or other adverse influences, and no portion subject to unpredictable
and/or sudden flooding, subsidence or erosion shall be used for any
purpose which would expose persons or property to hazards.
(1) Soil and ground cover requirements. Exposed ground
surfaces in all parts of the mobile home park that are not paved or
covered with stone screenings or other solid material shall be protected
with a vegetative growth that is capable of preventing soil erosion
and of eliminating objectionable dust.
(2) Site drainage requirements. The ground surface in
all parts of every mobile home park shall be graded and equipped to
drain all surface water in a safe, efficient manner.
F. Water supply and distribution system. An adequate,
safe and potable supply of water shall be provided in each mobile
home park. Where a public supply of water of satisfactory quantity,
quality and pressure is available at the site or at the boundary of
the site, connection shall be made thereto and its supply used exclusively.
When a satisfactory public water supply is not available, a private
water supply system may be developed and used as approved by Wisconsin
Statutes, the Department of Safety and Professional Services, and/or
any other agency as reflected in the Wisconsin Administrative Code.
G. Sewage disposal system. An adequate and safe sewer
system shall be provided within all mobile home parks for conveying
all sewage. The mobile home park sewer system shall make connection
to the public sewerage system at the boundary of the site and shall
use its disposal and treatment services exclusively. The mobile home
park sewer system shall be constructed and maintained according to
standards set by Wisconsin Statutes, the Department of Safety and
Professional Services, and/or any other agency as reflected in the
Wisconsin Administrative Code.
H. Refuse storage and collection system.
(1) The storage, collection and disposal of refuse in
the mobile home park shall be so conducted as to create no health
hazards, rodent harborage, insect breeding areas, accident or fire
hazards, or air pollution.
(2) All refuse shall be stored in flytight, watertight,
rodentproof containers which shall be located not more than 150 feet
from any mobile home lot. Containers shall be provided in sufficient
number and capacity to properly store all refuse.
(3) Refuse collection stands shall be provided for all
refuse containers. Such container stands shall be so designed as to
prevent containers from being tipped, to minimize spillage and container
deterioration and to facilitate cleansing around them.
(4) All refuse containing garbage shall be collected at
least once per week. Where suitable collection service is not available
from public or private agencies, the mobile home park operator shall
provide this service. All refuse shall be collected and transported
in covered vehicles or covered containers.
(5) In no instance may disposal of the waste be carried
out through incineration on the mobile home park site.
I. Public utility systems. All utility service systems
shall be installed and maintained in accordance with applicable codes
and regulations governing such systems.
(1) Public utility service outlets shall be provided at
each mobile home stand for electric, telephone, gas (if provided)
and television antenna service systems.
(2) All utility service lines shall be located underground
within the mobile home park.
(3) Each mobile home park shall have only one television
antenna that shall serve for all park residents.
J. Street and public walkway illumination requirements.
(1) All parks shall be furnished with lighting units so
spaced and equipped with luminaires placed at such mounting heights
as will provide the following average maintained levels of illumination
for the safe movement of pedestrians and vehicles at night:
(a)
All parts of park street systems shall be illuminated
at an average level of 0.6 footcandle, with a minimum of 0.2 footcandle.
(b)
All parts of the public walkway system shall
be illuminated at a minimum of 0.3 average maintained footcandle.
(c)
Potentially hazardous locations, such as major
park street intersections and steps or stepped ramps, shall be directly
illuminated with a minimum of 0.3 footcandle.
(2) All street or walkway light poles shall be decorative
in nature ("decorative" is defined here as a pole made of concrete,
aluminum, steel or laminated wood rather than the traditional wood
utility pole).
K. Fire protection.
(1) Mobile home parks shall be kept free of litter, rubbish
and other flammable materials.
(2) Portable fire extinguishers rated for Class B and
C fires shall be kept in service buildings and shall be maintained
in good operating condition. Their capacity shall not be less than
2 1/2 pounds.
(3) Fire extinguisher quantity, size, and storage shall
meet the requirements as set forth in NFPA 10.
(4) Fires shall be made only in barbecue pits, fireplaces, stoves or other equipment intended for such purposes. Incinerators for the specific purpose of burning refuse shall be prohibited. Outdoor fires and incinerators shall comply with Chapter
291 of the Town of Grand Chute Code.
(5) Cooking shelters, barbecue pits, fireplaces, and wood-burning
stoves shall be so located, constructed, maintained and used as to
minimize fire hazards and smoke nuisances, both on the property on
which used and on neighboring property. No open fire shall be permitted
except in facilities provided. No open fire shall be left unattended.
No fuel shall be used which emits dense smoke or objectionable odors.
(6) Fire hydrants shall be required in accordance with
the following requirements:
(a)
The water supply system shall permit the operation
of a minimum of two one-and-one-half-inch hose streams.
(b)
Each of two nozzles, held four feet above the
ground, shall deliver at least 75 gallons of water per minute at a
flowing pressure of at least 30 pounds per square inch at the highest
elevation point of the park.
(7) Fire hydrants, if provided, shall be located within
500 feet of any mobile home, service building or other structure in
the park.
Any person who shall violate any provision of
this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, forfeit an amount as
prescribed in the Uniform Forfeiture and Bond Schedules, together
with the costs of prosecution. Each day's failure of compliance with
any such provision shall constitute a separate violation.
In any case where a provision of this chapter is found to be
in conflict with a provision of any other ordinance or code of the
Town of Grand Chute existing on the effective date of this chapter,
the provision which, in the judgment of the Town Board, establishes
the higher standard for the promotion and protection of the health
and safety of the people shall prevail. In any case where a provision
of this chapter is found to be in conflict with a provision of any
other ordinance or code of the Town of Grand Chute existing on the
effective date of this chapter which establishes a lower standard
for the promotion and protection of the health and safety of the people,
the provision of this chapter shall be deemed to prevail, and such
other ordinances or codes are hereby declared to be repealed to the
extent that they may be found in conflict with this chapter.