This chapter shall be known as the "Mobile Home,
Mobile Home Park and Travel Trailer Ordinance of the Town of Maine"
enacted June 11, 1974.
The purpose of this chapter is to promote the health, safety, and general welfare of the community, including the protection and preservation of the property of the Town of Maine and of its inhabitants by establishing specific requirements and regulations governing the occupancy and maintenance of mobile homes, mobile home parks and travel trailers. In administering this chapter, reference should be made to Chapter
450, Zoning, of the Code of the Town of Maine.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following
words, terms and phrases shall have the meaning ascribed to them in
this section:
ALL-WEATHER, DUSTLESS MATERIAL
As it relates to the road surfaces, any material or treatment
that serves to reduce or eliminate dust generation. Such material
or treatment need not contain any bituminous materials, but must provide
a type of surface which will remain durable through all types of climatic
conditions.
BITUMINOUS MATERIAL
As it relates to road surfaces, any material or treatment
which has a mineral pitch or asphalt base and which provides a durable
road surface which can withstand all types of climatic conditions.
MOBILE HOME
Any portable vehicle which is designed to be transported
on its own wheels or those of another vehicle, which is used, designed
to be used and capable of being used as a detached single family residence;
and which is intended to be occupied as permanent living quarters
containing sleeping accommodations, a flush toilet, a tub or shower,
kitchen facilities and plumbing and electrical connections for attachment
to outside systems. This definition of mobile home includes all additions
which are purchased and added thereto or additions made subsequent
to installation. This definition does not include modular housing
placed on a standard foundation or travel trailer. For the purposes
of this chapter, a mobile home shall be deemed a structure.
MOBILE HOME LOT
A designated site of specific total land area which is located
within a mobile home park for the accommodation of one mobile home
and its occupants.
MOBILE HOME PARK
Any parcel of land which is planned and improved for the
placement of two or more mobile homes which are used as dwellings
and for occupancy of more than 90 consecutive days.
MOBILE HOME STAND
A durable surface located on a mobile home lot which is to
be used for placement of and capable of supporting a mobile home.
MODULAR HOUSE
A housing unit having a minimum width of 18 feet for its
entire length and containing a minimum of 750 square feet of usable
living space, constructed off site, prefabricated in sections consisting
of more than one segment, transported to the building site then fastened
together and placed on a permanent and masonry foundation to become
a fixed part of the real estate.
TRAVEL TRAILER
Any portable vehicle which is designed to be transported
on its own wheels; which is designed and intended to be used for temporary
living quarters for travel, recreational or vacation purposes; and
which may or may not include one or all of the accommodations and
facilities included in a mobile home. Such travel trailer shall be
less than 10 feet in width, and 35 feet or less in length.
TRAVEL TRAILER CAMP
Any area of land or building used for occupancy by two or
more travel trailers that are used for temporary dwellings by transient
persons for no more than three months.
Each application shall be accompanied by three
complete sets of plans prepared by a licensed engineer, licensed landscape
architect, or licensed architect. The plans shall be drawn to a scale
of 50 feet to one inch; shall include the data, North point, and scale;
and shall furnish the following information:
A. Legal data.
(1) The name and address of the applicant; or the names
and addresses of each partner or principal if the applicant is a partnership
or joint venture; or the name and address of each officer and director
if the applicant is an association or corporation.
(2) The location and description and Tax Map number of
the land that is proposed to be used as a mobile home park.
(3) The number of lots to be provided in such park.
B. Physical features.
(1) Existing and proposed contours at two-foot intervals.
(2) Location of watercourses, marshes, and areas subject
to flooding.
C. Existing development.
(1) A location map at the scale of one inch equals 100
feet which shows all land within 300 feet of the proposed mobile home
park and all structures on the land which abuts the proposed park
shall be submitted.
(2) The location, names and widths of all adjacent streets.
(3) The location of all water lines and utilities within
and adjacent to the proposed site.
D. Proposed development.
(1) The location and widths of all entrances, exits, streets,
walkways and parking areas, and easements.
(2) The location, size and arrangement of each lot within
the park.
(3) The method and plan for electric lighting, including
streetlighting.
(4) The location and plan of all proposed structures and
improvements.
(5) Any proposed grading and plans for landscaping.
(6) Any proposed stormwater drainage.
(7) Any proposed utilities and written approval from the
Broome County Health Department indicating that the proposed sewer
and water systems are in compliance with the provisions of the Broome
County Sanitary Code.
(8) Any public improvements proposed by the Town in or
adjoining the proposed park.
(10) The location of any central fuel storage facilities,
if any.
The following standards shall apply to all mobile
home parks located in the Town of Maine:
A. Site.
(1) The park shall be located in areas where grades and
soil conditions are suitable for use as mobile home sites.
(2) The park shall be located on a well-drained site which
is properly graded to insure rapid drainage and be free at all times
from stagnant pools of water.
(3) The park shall be free from heavy or dense growth
of brush and woods.
(4) The park shall be at least 10 acres in size, with
at least 300 feet frontage on a public road.
(5) The park shall not be developed within a flood hazard area, as described in Chapter
450, Zoning.
B. Mobile home lot.
(1) Each mobile home park shall be marked off by permanent
post pins, monuments, or other points of reference into mobile home
lots.
(2) Each mobile home lot shall have a total area of not
less than 6,000 square feet with a minimum width of 60 feet. Each
mobile home 18 or more feet in width shall be placed on a lot of not
less than 8,000 square feet.
(3) No more than 40% of a mobile home park may be covered
by mobile homes or permanent buildings.
(4) The only signs or displays permitted is one sign at
each entrance to the park from a public road indicating the name of
the mobile home park. Such a sign shall not exceed eight square feet
in area.
(5) Permanent structures must be set back a minimum of
20 feet from any property line and 50 feet from the highway right-of-way;
provided, however, that the front yard setback along collector and
arterial roads shall be 75 feet.
C. Mobile home.
(1) All mobile homes manufactured in the year 1974 or
any subsequent year and placed in a mobile home park within the Town
of Maine after December 11, 2007, shall be constructed and installed
in compliance with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and
Building Code and any other applicable United States and New York
State statutes, codes, rules and regulations.
[Amended 12-11-2007 by L.L. No. 8-2007]
(2) Any mobile home or attachment shall not be parked
or otherwise located nearer than a distance of:
(a)
At least 15 feet from an adjacent mobile home
lot line.
(b)
At least 50 feet from the park property line.
(c)
At least 50 feet from the right-of-way line
of a public street or highway; provided, however, that any mobile
home or attachment shall not be parked or otherwise located nearer
than a distance of 75 feet from the right-of-way line of a collector
or arterial road. In cases where the park is adequately screened by
topography or natural vegetation, this requirement relating to collector
or arterial roads may be reduced to 50 feet by the Town of Maine Planning
Board.
(d)
At least 20 feet from the nearest edge of any
roadway located within the park.
(3) Only one mobile home shall be permitted to occupy
one mobile home lot.
(4) Each mobile home must be provided with perimeter skirting
to hide all wheels, chassis and other appurtenances under the home,
to be installed in less than 90 days after mobile home is placed on
its stand.
D. Mobile home stand.
(1) Each mobile home lot shall have a mobile home stand
which will provide for the practical placement on and removal from
the lot both the mobile home and its appurtenant structures, and the
retention of the home on the lot in a stable condition.
(2) The stand shall fit the dimensions of the anticipated
mobile home and its appurtenant structures and appendages.
(3) The stand shall be constructed to a standard which
is durable and adequate for the support of the maximum anticipated
loads.
(4) The stand shall be suitably graded to permit rapid
surface drainage.
E. Accessibility.
(1) Each mobile home park shall be directly accessible
from an existing public highway or street. No dead-end streets or
culs-de-sac shall be permitted in any mobile home park.
(2) Entrances and exits shall be designed and strategically
located at a minimum distance of 100 feet between them, for the safe
and convenient movement into and out of the park, and to minimize
friction with the free movement of traffic on a public highway or
street.
(3) All entrances and exits shall be at right angles to
the existing public highway or street.
(4) All entrances and exits shall be free of all objects
which would impede the visibility of the driver entering or exiting
a public highway or street for a distance of 20 feet from the edge
of pavement of the public highway and park road.
(5) All entrances and exits shall be of sufficient width
to facilitate the turning movements of vehicles with mobile homes
attached.
F. Streets and drives.
(1) Each park shall have improved streets to provide for
the convenient access to all mobile home lots and other important
facilities within the park. Streets shall be improved to at least
meet the following specifications. (These are not Town highway specifications).
(2) The street system shall be so designed to permit the
safe and convenient vehicular circulation within the park.
(3) Streets shall be adapted to the topography and shall
have suitable alignment and gradient for traffic safety.
(4) All streets shall intersect at angles not less than
80°.
(5) All streets shall be surfaced with a bituminous material.
(6) All streets shall have a minimum paved width of 18 feet as in Subsection
F(5) of this chapter, and shall contain two four-foot shoulders.
(7) An all-weather, dustless driveway shall be provided
for each mobile home lot. This driveway shall have a minimum width
of 10 feet.
G. Parking.
(1) Two off-street parking spaces shall be provided on
each mobile home lot. (This requirement may be satisfied by driveway
parking areas). The parking spaces shall be surfaced with an all-weather,
dustless material. Each parking space shall have a minimum width of
10 feet and a minimum length of 25 feet.
(2) Additional off-street parking spaces shall be provided
at strategic and convenient locations.
(a)
There shall be one such parking space for each
two mobile home lots within the park.
(b)
Such parking space shall be provided in bays
of a dimension of 10 feet by 20 feet which shall provide for adequate
maneuvering space, at the standard of 350 square feet, for total parking
and maneuvering.
H. Utilities and service facilities. The following utilities
and service facilities shall be provided in each mobile home park
which shall bear the stamp of approval of the Broome County Department
of Health:
(1) An adequate supply of pure water for drinking and
domestic purposes shall be supplied by pipes to all mobile home lots
and buildings within the park to meet the requirements of the park.
Each mobile home lot shall be provided with sufficient water connections.
(2) Each mobile home lot shall be provided with a sewer,
which shall be connected to the mobile home situated on the lot, to
receive the waste from the shower, tub, flush toilets, lavatory and
kitchen sink in such home. The sewer shall be connected to a public
sewer system or one approved by the Broome County Health Department,
so as not to present a health hazard. Sewer connections in unoccupied
lots shall be so sealed to prevent the emission of any odors and the
creation of breeding places for insects.
(3) A storm drainage system designed to convey all stormwater
into natural watercourses and to maintain the park free from standing
pools of water.
(4) Twenty-gallon garbage cans with tight-fitting covers
shall be provided by the tenant in quantities sufficient to effect
disposal of all garbage and rubbish. The cans shall be kept in a sanitary
condition at all times. Garbage and rubbish shall be collected and
disposed of as frequently as may be necessary to insure that such
cans shall not overflow. The trash collections areas shall be screened
by opaque fencing and/or plantings.
(5) Service buildings shall be provided as deemed necessary
for the normal operation of the park. Such buildings shall be maintained
by the owner or manager of the park in a clean, sightly and sanitary
condition.
(6) Each mobile home lot shall be provided with weatherproof
electric service connections and outlets which are a type approved
by the New York State Board of Fire Underwriters.
(7) Mailboxes shall be clustered attractively and located
near the main entrance road.
I. Open space.
(1) Each mobile home park shall provide common open space
for the use by the occupants of such park.
(2) Such open space shall be conveniently located in the
park. Such open space shall have a total area equal to at least 10%
of the gross land area of the park, and such open space shall be at
least one acre in size.
J. Landscaping.
(1) Lawn and ground cover shall be provided on those areas
not used for the placement of mobile homes and other buildings, walkways,
roads and parking areas.
(2) Planting or screening shall be provided and maintained
to the extent needed in order to provide for the screening of objectionable
views.
(a)
Screen planting or fencing shall be provided
to screen objectionable views. Views which shall be screened include
nonresidential uses, garbage storage and collection areas, and fuel
tanks.
(3) Grass or ground cover shall be provided on all areas
subject to erosion.
K. Nonconforming parks. All mobile home parks built and
operating prior to the enactment of this chapter which do not meet
the standards of this chapter shall be called "nonconforming mobile
home parks." All changes and additions to such parks shall be made
in accordance with this chapter and reviewed by the Planning Board
and approved by the Town Board.
Mobile homes outside mobile home parks are permitted
by right in areas appropriately zoned within the Town of Maine, subject
to the following conditions and requirements.
A. Application procedure. Each application for a building
permit to establish a mobile home outside a mobile home park shall
be filed with the Building and Code Inspector of the Town of Maine.
B. Application data.
(1) Each mobile home building permit application shall
contain a sketch showing:
(c)
Proposed location of the mobile home.
(d)
Location of all other structures.
(e)
Description of the foundation.
(2) All building permits under this section shall be issued
by the Building and Code Inspector of the Town of Maine.
C. Requirements for mobile homes outside mobile home parks. No occupied mobile home shall hereafter be parked or otherwise placed within the Town of Maine and outside a licensed mobile home park except when a building permit therefor has been issued as herein provided. A building permit for the use of a mobile home in the Town of Maine may be issued only when, in addition to meeting all of the requirements set forth in Chapter
450, Zoning, of the Code of the Town of Maine, the New York State Public Health Law, and the Broome County Sanitary Code, such mobile home meets all of the following requirements:
(1) General requirements.
(a)
All mobile homes placed on individual lots shall
be constructed and installed in compliance with Article 19-AA of the
New York State Executive Law, or as the same may hereafter be amended.
(b)
Each lot on which a mobile home is located must
be appropriately zoned for mobile homes.
(c)
Each mobile home must be placed upon an individual
lot and meet all pertinent zoning and subdivision regulations for
single-family homes.
(d)
That the gross floor area of such mobile home
shall not be less than 650 square feet.
(2) Foundation construction.
(a)
Material: Masonry eight inches in width.
(b)
Type of construction: Perimeter foundation;
or lateral runners; or longitudinal runners; or pillars.
(c)
Manner of construction:
[1]
Foundation shall extend 36 inches below the
ground level.
[2]
Foundation shall contact and support mobile
home structural frame in a sufficient number of places to adequately
support the mobile home.
[3]
The structural frame of said mobile home shall
be attached to the foundation in not less than four places, located
in accordance with good engineering practice. Each attaching device
shall be capable of withstanding a tension force of at least 2,800
pounds.
[4]
The bottom frame of the mobile home, when placed
upon said foundation shall not exceed 48 inches in height above ground
level at any point.
(3) Foundation and closure. The mobile home foundation
shall be enclosed by a skirt securely fastened and extending from
the outside wall of the mobile home to ground level around the entire
perimeter of the mobile home. The skirt shall be constructed of sturdy
wood, plastic, masonry, or metal material capable of withstanding
extreme weather conditions over extended periods of time. No skirt
shall be required where a perimeter foundation fully encloses the
area between the unit and the ground level.
(4) Storage space. Each mobile home shall have at least 500 cubic feet of accessory storage space either in the basement (as defined in Chapter
450, Zoning, of the Code of the Town of Maine) below the mobile home or in an accessory building.
D. Prohibition of mobile homes. No occupied mobile home
or travel trailer shall be parked or allowed to remain upon any street,
highway or other public place, except that emergency stopping or parking,
when caused by mechanical failure, shall be permitted upon the shoulder
of any street or highway for a period of not more than 72 hours, subject,
however, to any prohibition imposed by other regulations or laws.
No person, partnership, association, joint venture
or corporation, being the owner or occupant of any land within the
Town of Maine, shall use or allow the use of such land for a travel
trailer camp unless a license has been obtained as herein provided.
A. General information.
(1) Each application for the establishment of a travel
trailer camp requires final plan approval by the Town Board after
a public hearing. The application must include all final plan submission
requirements of this chapter and is reviewed by the Planning Board
and Building and Code Inspector, and recommendations made to the Town
Board prior to public hearing and subsequent Town Board action.
(2) Prior to this application (for final plan approval) or concurrent with the application (for final plan approval) there must also be a separate application for a change of zone, establishing a planned recreation district, in accordance with the provisions of Chapter
450, Zoning.
(3) The zone may be changed on the basis of an application and sketch plan, as outlined in Chapter
450, Zoning. The application for a change in zone is reviewed by the Planning Board and Building and Code Inspector and recommendations made to the Town Board prior to a public hearing and subsequent Town Board action. The submission requirements that accompany an application for change in zone are outlined in Chapter
450, Zoning.
B. Application.
(1) Each application for establishment of a travel trailer
camp shall be in writing and signed by the applicant and shall include
written approval from the Broome County Health Department showing
compliance with the provisions of the rules and regulations of the
Broome County Health Department and compliance with the Broome County
Sanitary Code. The application shall be prepared on a form supplied
by the Town, and shall include all required application data, and
four copies shall be filed with the Town Clerk.
(2) The Town Clerk shall transmit three copies of the
application and application data to the Town Building and Code Inspector.
(3) The Town Building and Code Inspector shall review
the application for compliance with the minimum requirements of this
chapter.
(4) The Town Building and Code Inspector shall forward
one copy of a complete application to the Town Board and Planning
Board. Incomplete applications shall be returned to the applicant,
indicating the additional information or material required.
(5) Within 30 days after receipt of a complete application
from the Town Clerk, the Building and Code Inspector must submit a
report of his findings along with his recommendations to the Town
Board.
(6) Upon receipt of the application from the Town Building
and Code Inspector, the Planning Board shall review the general arrangement
of the travel trailer camp. This shall include a review of location
and width of streets, drives and parking areas; the location of all
structures, the location of all entrances and exits, the location,
type and extent of landscaping screening materials, and provisions
for fire-fighting or emergency vehicles. The Planning Board may consult
the Town Engineer or the appropriate parties as to the appropriateness
of the engineering design.
(7) The Planning Board shall submit its recommendations
to the Town Board within 75 days from receipt of the application.
(8) The Town Board, after public hearing, by resolution
shall indicate its approval or disapproval of the application, within
135 days from the filing of a complete application with the Town Clerk.
The applicant shall be notified in writing of the decision rendered
within seven days of such decision.
[Amended 12-11-2007 by L.L. No. 8-2007]
The applicant for a license for a travel trailer
camp shall pay to the Town of Maine an application fee for the establishment
of a travel trailer camp, and thereafter an annual fee. The amounts
of such fees shall be set and established from time to time by resolution
adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Maine. The initial application
shall be accompanied by a statement of development intent and four
complete sets of plans prepared by a licensed engineer, licensed landscape
architect, or licensed architect.
A. Legal data.
(1) The name and address of the applicant; or the name
and address of each partner or principal if the applicant is a partnership
or joint venture; or the name and address of each officer and director
if the applicant is an association or corporation.
(2) The location and description and Tax Map number of
the land that is proposed to be used as a travel trailer camp.
(3) The number of lots to be provided in such camp.
B. Final plan.
(1) Proposed site plan generally showing building, location,
parking areas and drives.
(2) Walks, landscaping and recreation areas.
(3) Proposed utility system including storm drainage systems
and location of wells and septic treatment areas if any.
(4) Proposed construction sequence for buildings and other
development.
(5) Location, dimensions, and exterior treatment of all
structures.
(6) Accurate, up-to-date boundary survey by a licensed
surveyor.
Travel trailers shall not be parked or located between the street line and the front building line as defined in Chapter
450, Zoning, or within 20 feet of an adjoining property line.
[Amended 3-19-2019 by L.L. No. 3-2019]
A violation of this chapter is hereby declared
to be an offense, punishable by a fine not exceeding $250 or imprisonment
for a period not to exceed 15 days, or both. Each week's continued
violation shall constitute a separate additional violation.