JACKSON — The Township Commit-tee has unanimously adopted an ordinance on required setbacks in mobile home parks. The ordinance defines the distance that is required between mobile home park units.
At a previous meeting in late April, the committee heard more than two hours of testimony regarding underground heating tanks in mobile home parks. Committee members then decided to table a second ordinance that would amend the required setbacks between units at the parks.
According to Committeeman Michael Kafton, in the past a distance of 10 feet was required between units in mobile home parks. The committee then introduced an ordinance that called for units to be separated by 25 feet.
"Because some mobile home parks would never be able to adhere to the distance requirement, we decided to add an amendment to the ordinance," Kafton said. "Some of these parks were built before any ordinance was in place. We can’t make people move the units that are already there, but we can make some new rules regarding new units that go up."
The amendment to the ordinance states that units in mobile home parks must be 25 feet apart. However, if an owner is approached and agrees to a lesser distance, that is acceptable.
According to Kafton, both parties would have to sign a contract saying they agreed on the distance.
At the April 22 meeting of the governing body, Committeeman Sean Giblin asked that the resolution be tabled so officials could have more time to discuss it.
"There are certain issues regarding this ordinance that I don’t think we have given enough thought to," Giblin said. "I have serious doubts about some of the aspects of the ordinance."
Although neither would elaborate at that time, Committeeman Joseph Grisanti agreed with Giblin and said he also had some issues with the ordinance.
"I would like to take the time to go over the finer points of this ordinance once again," Grisanti said. "I agree completely that we should table it."
If committee members were still having any doubts regarding the ordinance when it came before them a few weeks later, none were spoken. The committee members refrained from making any comments and the vote was unanimous. No one in the audience, which numbered about 15 people, asked to be heard during the public hearing.
— Cindy Tietjen