INDIAN RIVER COUNTY – Three small mobile home rental parks in Indian River County will be allowed to have a limited number of recreational vehicles amongst their residents, the Board of County Commissioners recently decided.
The Florida Department of Community Affairs did not raise any objections to the proposed land use changes and sent the county’s proposal back to the commission for approval.
Tanglewood Village, Ranchland and Holiday Village are the three parks affected by the land use changes because they are 20 acres or smaller in size. They will be allowed to have up to 25 percent of its slips available for RVs under the revised land use changes.
Heron Cay resident Gwendolyn Ripp told commissioners that she understood the changes do not impact her mobile home community, but that the land use change would set a precedent.
“I commend you for this consideration,” Ripp said, adding that doing so would ensure that mobile home communities remain affordable, viable options for the residents.
Brian Ellis, president of Tanglewood Village, thanked commissioners, too, for their support of the changes.
“We got devastated” by the hurricanes of 2004 and 2005, Ellis reminded the board, adding that they lost 11 percent of the homes in the community because of the storms.
Ellis said that the only thing that has kept Tanglewood Village afloat financially has been the ability to rent RV slips within the community.
Commissioner Joe Flescher was the lone vote against making the proposed land use changes, citing concerns for residents who would have to live next to a parked vehicle.
No one from the public raised such concerns during the public hearing and discussion.
Flescher also questioned what would keep a larger mobile home community from subdividing to allow for the RV rentals.
Community Development Director Bob Keating said a mobile home park owner would have to go through the land use change process, which requires hearings and meetings with the county’s staff and Planning and Zoning Board, amongst other actions, before it could be approved.
The changes were approved with a 3-1 vote. Commissioner Gary Wheeler was absent due to a medical issue.