Town of Lansing, NY Mobile Home Parks

Unless otherwise provided in this chapter, the standards and requirements of this chapter shall apply to all mobile home parks and their establishment, maintenance and operation in the Town of Lansing after the effective date of this chapter.

Waivers of any standard or requirement of this chapter may hereafter be expressly provided, and may be granted by the Planning Board when found warranted. The Planning Board may grant a waiver when it finds that, due to the special circumstances of a particular case, a waiver of certain requirements is justified. In all cases, no waiver shall be granted unless the Planning Board finds and records in its minutes that:

Granting the waiver would be keeping with the intent and spirit of this chapter and does not nullify any requirements of the Tompkins County Health Department;

There is no significant adverse effect upon the character, appearance, or welfare of the neighborhood;

There are special circumstances involved in the particular case;

(d)

Denying the waiver would result in undue hardship, provided that such hardship has not been self-imposed; and

(e)

The waiver is the minimum necessary degree of variation from the requirements of this chapter as will obviate the hardship or difficulty or effect substantial justice, while also serving the public interest in safe roads, water, and land uses.

Mobile home park, park site plan. A park site plan, prepared by a licensed engineer, licensed land surveyor, or architect shall show the following:

The location, boundaries, dimensions, and topography of the tract of land proposed to be used for the mobile home park.

The number, location and size of all spaces reserved for independent mobile homes and all service outlets or connections therefor, including mobile home stands.

(3)

The boundaries of and facilities to be included in recreation areas, and the location of all mobile home park auxiliary facilities and buildings, such as, but not limited to, park offices, dumpster sites, and storage sites.

(4)

The location, size, and electric lighting plan for roads, walks, and outdoor areas.

(5)

The location of any proposed structures.

(6)

The location, type, and capacity of:

Water supply, distribution and storage systems;

Sewage treatment and disposal systems; and

Stormwater drainage facilities.

(7)

Plans and specifications for all buildings and other improvements constructed within the mobile home park.

(8)

Plans for any and all landscaping within and upon the perimeter of the mobile home park, exclusive of individual lots.

(9)

Design standards for roads and other infrastructures.

(10)

Such other information in such detail as may be reasonably required by Town and county reviewing authorities, including the Planning Board.

Mobile home park design standards.

Each mobile home lot shall be at least 55 feet wide (upon at least one dimension) and shall contain a minimum of 7,000 square feet, of which no more than 30% shall be occupied by the mobile home stand. Each mobile home lot shall abut on a park street with access to a public highway. Such lots shall be clearly defined and mobile homes shall be sited on such lots so that the following standards are met:

No mobile home shall be sited within 30 feet of any other mobile home or any other dwelling, either on or off site.

No accessory structure, including garages and carports, shall be sited within 10 feet of any mobile home lot boundary, nor within 30 feet of the boundary of the mobile home park.

No mobile home shall be sited less than 100 feet from any public highway; however, the Planning Board may, for good and stated reasons, alter this dimension by waiver and without need of a variance as part of the site plan review process.

(d)

All areas required to be landscaped, screened, buffered by vegetation, or provided with lawns or other ground cover shall be kept properly maintained, including by regular mowing.

(e)

No area established as a minimum yard or setback area shall be used for parking or accessory structures.

(f)

All side yard setbacks must be a minimum of 10 feet; however, the Planning Board may, for good and stated reasons, alter this dimension by waiver and without need of a variance as part of the site plan review process.

(g)

All rear yard setbacks must be a minimum of 15 feet; however, the Planning Board may, for good and stated reasons, alter this dimension by waiver and without need of a variance as part of the site plan review process.

(h)

All front yards must be a minimum of 25 feet; however, the Planning Board may, for good and stated reasons, alter this dimension by waiver and without need of a variance as part of the site plan review process.

(i)

No mobile home may be sited within 25 feet of any park street as measured from the near edge of the pavement; however, the Planning Board may, for good and stated reasons, alter this dimension by waiver and without need of a variance as part of the site plan review process.

(j)

All mobile home lots shall have a driveway, which may consist of an off-road parking area, and each mobile home lot shall have sufficient off-road parking for two automobiles.

(k)

The mobile home park shall have a perimeter buffer at least 30 feet wide, and the Planning Board may require plantings, fencing, or other screening or buffers to be therein installed.

Each park street shall conform to the following requirements:

Park streets shall be continuous and their lanes well marked.

Park streets shall provide at least one connection with a public highway at a 90° angle, and at least one point of intersection with and access from a public highway shall be required for every 10 mobile home lots proposed, or any fraction thereof.

Park streets shall be at least 20 feet wide.

(d)

Park streets shall be improved and maintained with an all-weather hard surface on a suitable base, subject to the advance approval of the Town Highway Department as to their method of construction and the suitability of materials so utilized.

(e)

Park streets shall be provided with signage and lighting as required by the Planning Board through the site plan review process.

(3)

Driveways shall not be less than 10 feet in width and shall be improved and maintained with an all-weather hard surface on a suitable base or by compacted crusher run or gravel, subject to the approval of the Planning Board. The driveway shall extend a minimum of 20 feet beyond the edge of any park street, and at least 40 feet beyond the edge of any public highway or private road. In no case may the driveway extend beyond the rear line of the mobile home stand.

(4)

An area or areas restricted to recreational use shall be provided in each mobile home park. A minimum of 10% of the gross land area shall be made available in one or more places within the mobile home park for this use. The Planning Board may require suitable fencing and landscaping of such areas for screening or other purposes.

Utilities.

No mobile home park shall be occupied until the water system thereof is connected to and serviced by a public water supply distribution system or approved by the Tompkins County Health Department. The water system of a mobile home park shall be connected by pipes to each mobile home stand, and all such water lines shall be suitably protected from the elements and accidental damage or disconnection.

All plumbing in a mobile home park shall be constructed and maintained in accordance with standards approved by all applicable state and local laws, codes, and regulations.

(3)

All water from showers, tubs, toilets, laundries, faucets, sinks and lavatories shall be wasted into an approved municipal or private sewerage system, or into an septic or sanitary treatment system approved by the Tompkins County Health Department (or equivalent).

(4)

Each mobile home park shall provide each mobile home lot with a satisfactory sewer, wastewater, septic, or other gray-water and sanitary disposal system or connection approved by the Tompkins County Health Department.

(5)

An electric outlet shall be provided for each mobile home stand that is sufficient to meet typical household loading and needs. All electric connections and systems shall be inspected by a New York State certified Electrical Inspector. No letting or residential or other use of a mobile home, and no certificate of occupancy shall be issued, until a proper electrical inspector's certificate is filed with the Enforcement Officer and such inspection shows compliance with required state and local laws, codes, and regulations.

Refuse disposal. The storage, collection and disposal of waste garbage, and refuse in a mobile home park shall be so managed as to create no health or accident hazards, rodent harborage, insect-breeding areas, or pollution of air or water. All refuse shall be stored in fly-tight, watertight, and rodent-proof containers. Insect- and rodent-control measures to safeguard public health as recommended by the Tompkins County Health Department shall be applied in all mobile home parks. When required by the Planning Board or recommended by the Tompkins County Health Department, a mobile home park may be required to provide a dumpster container area, and all such dumpsters must have covers, be kept closed, and regularly emptied and serviced to avoid spoilage, rot, mold, container leakage, odors, and like issues and problems.

§ 170-5 Supplemental regulations.

It shall be unlawful to increase the living or storage space of any mobile home without first obtaining a permit from the Enforcement Officer. No accessory structure may be used for living or occupancy space; except for storm shelters; but no storm shelter shall be used for storage or as storage space.

Awnings or canopies may be attached to mobile homes if allowed in the approved site plan review conditions for the mobile home park. No such structure or device may be installed or attached until a building permit is obtained whenever the park site plan approval or design, size, or features of such installation require the same.

No occupied mobile home shall be located in a mobile home park in any area other than upon a mobile home park lot. However, staging and storage areas for vacant mobile homes yet to be installed or being relocated or removed due to summary proceedings, condemnation, or other causes, are allowed if such location is sited and approved during the site plan review process.

Mobile home parks shall at all times be maintained in a clean and sanitary manner in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and applicable local and state laws, codes, and regulations.

All mobile homes must be anchored in accordance with applicable local and state laws, codes, and regulations or, if no such local and state law, code, or regulation applies, then by at least one anchor at each building corner.

All existing mobile home parks, or emplacements of any mobile homes which would be subject to regulation under this chapter, shall comply with the requirements of this chapter within three years of its adoption, unless a waiver is otherwise granted upon due application there for. All such existing mobile home parks, or emplacements of any mobile homes which would be subject to regulation under this chapter, shall be required to comply with the requirements of this chapter for any expansions of the mobile home park, the addition of any lots, or any other change (including any change of use) as is determined as significant by the Enforcement Officer or the Planning Board.

§ 170-6 Inspections and enforcement.

Before a mobile home park commences operation, the Enforcement Officer shall make an inspection of the premises to determine:

That all of the requirements of this chapter have been complied with; and

That any conditions set forth in any site plan review have been complied with. If such compliance is found, the Enforcement Officer may issue a certificate of occupancy.

If the Enforcement Officer finds that such mobile home park is not being maintained in a clean, orderly, and sanitary condition, or that such mobile home park is not being operated in accordance with the provisions of this chapter or the conditions of the site plan review approvals, the Enforcement Officer shall serve upon the owner, his agent or employee, a written order to remedy directing that the conditions therein specified be remedied within a set period of time. Such order to remedy shall comply with the requirements of NYS Executive Law § 382. If, after the expiration of the compliance period stated in such order to remedy, such conditions are not corrected and compliance has not been achieved and maintained, then the Enforcement Officer may commence criminal enforcement proceedings, including by service upon the owner of any mobile home, the owner of the mobile home park, the owner of any mobile home lot, the holder of any mobile home park permit, the owner of the underlying land upon which is situate a mobile home park, or upon any other person who violates this chapter, a criminal appearance ticket, criminal summons, or other lawful process.

§ 170-7 Penalties for offenses.

[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I)]

All provisions of New York State law generally applicable to misdemeanors shall apply to any criminal proceeding brought under this chapter, and any misdemeanor shall be deemed an unclassified misdemeanor. For purposes of this chapter the Town's justice court is hereby vested and imbued with jurisdiction to issue administrative and other warrants in compliance with the New York Criminal Procedure Law and administrative codes of the State of New York, as well as to hear and adjudicate allegations relating to the criminal or civil violation of this chapter and thereafter, if appropriate, impose any fine, penalty, or sanction.

First violation. Any person or entity that violates any of the provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a criminal violation and subject to a fine of not more than $500, or subject to a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 to be recovered by the Town in a civil action.

Second violation. Any violation that is found to have occurred within two years of any prior civil or criminal determination of any other violation of this chapter shall be deemed a second violation. Any person or entity that commits any second violation shall be:

Guilty of an unclassified misdemeanor and subject to a fine not less than $500 nor more than $2,500 and a period of incarceration not to exceed 120 days; or

Subject to a civil penalty of not less than $1,000 nor more than $5,000 to be recovered by the Town in a civil action.

Each week that any noncompliance or violation continues is and may be charged as a separate violation.

In addition to any other remedy, a violation of, or noncompliance with, this chapter may result in the termination, modification, or revocation of any permits or approvals as issued.

The application or pursuit of any civil or criminal fine, sanction, or penalty shall not preclude the pursuit of any other lawful remedy by the Town, including, but not limited to, the right to seek equitable relief.

Whenever the Town shall believe from evidence satisfactory to it that there is a violation of this chapter, the Town may bring an action to enjoin and restrain the continuation of such violation and in any such action:

Preliminary relief may be granted under Article 63 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules; and

The Town shall not be required to post any bond or undertaking; and

The Town need not prove that:

[1]

There is or will likely be irreparable harm; or

[2]

That the Town has no adequate remedy at law.