Italy, TX Zoning Ordinance

15.1

General Purpose and Description:

The “MH”, Mobile Home District is designed to provide for mobile home parks and development facilities and other uses which have the characteristics similar to those found suitable for Mobile Home residential developments

15.2

Permitted Uses:

Individually owned mobile homes and lots

Commercial mobile home parks, providing, either on a rental or as outright sale, lots for placement of mobile homes, with utilities. Small offices incidental to the operation of the mobile home park, and washaterias are permitted within the park

15.3

Permitted Accessory Uses:

Farms, nurseries, greenhouses or gardens, limited to the propagation and cultivation of plants, provided no retail or wholesale business is conducted on the premises

The keeping of dogs, cats, and other normal domestic household pets, but limited to four (4) animals over six (6) months old. No more than two (2) large animals, specifically horses, cattle and sheep, can be maintained per one-half (1/2) acre of lot area. Swine and poultry are expressly prohibited

Parks, playgrounds, community buildings, museums and other public recreational facilities, owned and/or operated by the municipality or other public agency; and privately owned and maintained recreation areas

Public buildings, including libraries, museums, police and fire stations, and similar public uses or facilities

Real estate sales offices during the development of residential subdivisions, but not to exceed two (2) years

Public schools (kindergarten through high school)

Temporary buildings for uses incidental to construction work on the premises, which said buildings shall be removed upon the completion or abandonment of construction work by order of the building official

Water supply reservoirs, pumping plants and towers

Accessory buildings and uses, customarily incidental to the above uses and located on the same lot therewith, but not involving the conduct of a retail business except as provided herein:

A part of the accessory building. Temporary metal buildings less than one hundred twenty (120) square feet which are used for tool and supply storage are permitted

A detached private garage or an attached private garage, in a compartment as a part of the main building, having a capacity of not more than two (2) automobiles

Antenna (amateur or CB radio)

10.

Telephone exchange, provided no public business and no repair or outside storage facilities are maintained

11.

Sewage treatment plant (publicly operated)

12.

Swimming Pool (private)

13.

Water treatment plant

14.

Private noncommercial stables as an accessory use to the housing of animals owned by the resident

15.

A temporary bulletin board or sign, not exceeding fifty (50) square feet in area appertaining to the lease, hire or sale of a building, premise or acreage

16.

Church or Rectory (and uses incidental to their function)

17.

Family Home

18.

Such uses as may be permitted under the provisions of Specific Use Permits, Section 21

15.4

Area Regulations:

Minimum Mobile Home Park Size:

A site to be a minimum area of five (5) acres. Each mobile home space shall have a minimum area of three thousand, five hundred (3,500) square feet; however, no mobile home space shall have dimensions of less than forty feet (40') narrow dimension or eighty fee (80') in length, including off-street, required parking.

Individual Mobile Home Lots:

Any person desiring to place a mobile home on an individually platted lot within an area zoned as MH, Mobile Home District, may do so without meeting the requirements of a commercial mobile home park, except for structural protection (Section 15.17), under the condition that the mobile home be placed on a lot no less than seven thousand, five hundred (7,500) square feet and that all the provisions of the SF-2 District are met. The conditions set forth for structural protection of mobile homes in mobile home parks shall apply to individual mobile home lots.

15.5

General Provisions for Mobile Home Parks:

Tenant Parking:

Each parking space shall be hard, dust free, surfaced and be located to eliminate interference with access to parking areas provided for other mobile homes and for public parking in the park. Each parking space will be not less than seventeen feet by ten feet (17' x 10').

Visitor and Supplemental Parking:

In addition to parking spaces required for each mobile home unit, there shall be parking provided for the mobile home community in general:

One (1) visitor parking space for every four (4) mobile home spaces; and

One (1) supplemental parking or vehicle storage space for every four (4) mobile home spaces for the parking or storage of boats, campers and similar vehicles or equipment. These visitor and supplemental spaces may be located anywhere within the mobile home community provided that no mobile home space shall be situated further than one hundred fifty feet (150') from a visitor space.

Access:

Each mobile home community shall have direct access from a public street or an internal street. Where an internal street provides access, the same shall be dedicated to the public as an emergency access easement to allow for the rapid and safe movement of vehicles used for the purpose of providing emergency health or public safety services. Each emergency access easement shall have a clear unobstructed width of twenty-four feet (24'), shall connect to a dedicated public street, or shall have sufficient turning area and radii to permit free movement of emergency vehicles.

Walkways:

Designated, paved or concrete walkways will be provided on both sides of roadways or streets.

Street Names and Signs:

Within each mobile home park, all streets shall be named, and mobile homes numbered in a logical and orderly fashion. Street signs shall be of a color and size contrasting with those on public streets and roadways so that there is no confusion regarding which are private and which are public streets. These signs and numbers shall be of standard size and placement to facilitate location of emergency vehicles. Street names shall be approved by the Planning and Zoning Commission.

Other Signs:

Along all sections of emergency access easements, the owner or agent shall erect metal signs prohibiting parking. The sign type, size, height and location shall be approved by the City prior to installation.

Intersections:

Internal streets shall intersect adjoining public streets at approximately ninety degrees (90°) and at locations which will eliminate or minimize interference with traffic on those public streets.

Street Lighting:

Street lighting within the mobile home park shall be provided along all emergency access easements. Light standards shall have a height and spacing to insure an average illumination level of not under 0.2 footcandles.

15.6

[Reserved]

15.7

Electric and Telephone Service:

All electrical distribution lines and all telephone lines shall be underground, except for the primary service line to the park.

15.8

Drainage and Soil Protection:

The ground surface in all parts of the park shall be graded and equipped to drain all surface water in a safe, efficient manner. Each mobile home space shall provide adequate drainage for the placement of a mobile home. Exposed ground surfaces in all parts of every mobile home park shall be paved and covered with stone screening, or other solid material, and protected with a vegetative growth capable of preventing soil erosion and eliminating dust.

15.9

Water Supply Facilities:

Water supply facilities for fire protection shall meet the minimum requirements of the Key Rate Schedule for a Standard City as last adopted by the State Board of Insurance of Texas.

15.10

Firefighting:

Approaches to all mobile homes shall be kept clear for firefighting.

The owner or agent of a mobile home park shall be responsible for the instruction of any staff in the use of the park fire protection equipment and in their specific duties in the event of a fire. Owner shall supply standard city hydrants located within three hundred feet (300') of all mobile home spaces, measured along the drive or street.

The owner or agent of a mobile home park shall be responsible for maintaining the entire area of the park free of dry brush, leaves and weeds.

The owner or agent of a mobile home park shall provide an adequate system of collection and safe disposal of rubbish, as approved by the City.

15.11

Mobile Home Spacing Standards:

To provide adequate separation of mobile homes and of other buildings and structures for fire and explosion safety purposes and to promote structural safety in placement of mobile homes on their respective sites, the following spacing shall apply:

A minimum front yard setback shall be ten feet (10') from the nearest corner of the mobile home to the front line of mobile home space

No mobile home shall be closer than twenty-five feet (25') at any property line

For other structures on each mobile home space, the minimum front yard setback shall be at least twenty feet (20')

The minimum distance between mobile homes at any point shall be twenty feet (20')

The average vertical clearance height of the mobile home frame above the finished ground elevation shall not be less than three feet (3')

15.12

Sewer:

An approved sewerage treatment plant shall be provided to meet the minimum State of Texas requirements or an adequate and safe sewage system shall be provided for conveying sewage to the city treatment plant. The system shall be constructed in accordance with applicable local and state health regulations and the design of proposed sewage disposal facilities shall be approved by the City prior to construction. Effluence from sewage treatment facilities shall not discharge into any water of the State except with prior approval of the City of Italy. No septic tanks shall be permitted.

15.13

Refuse Handling and Collection:

Storage, collection and handling of refuse shall be conducted so as to create no health hazards, rodent harborage, insect breeding areas, accident or fire hazards, or air pollution. Every dwelling unit shall be located within two hundred fifty feet (250') of a refuse facility measured along the designated pedestrian or vehicular travel way. There shall be available at least six (6) cubic yards of refuse container per thirty (30) units.

15.14

Animals:

A maximum of two (2) animals (dogs, cats, or other household pets) per dwelling unit will be permitted. The animals must be contained within the park area and not permitted to stray upon city streets or other properties.

15.15

Noise Control:

No broadcast or playing of music shall be permitted through any speaker system external to any building or mobile home.

15.16

Insect or Rodent Control:

Grounds, buildings and structures shall be maintained free of insect and rodent harborage and infestations. Parks shall be maintained free of accumulation of debris which may provide rodent harborage or breeding places for flies, mosquitoes, and other pests. The growth of brush, weeds, and grass shall be controlled to prevent harborage of noxious insects or other pests. Parks shall be so maintained as to prevent the growth of noxious weeds detrimental to health. Open areas shall be maintained free of undergrowth.

15.17

Structural Protection (all units):

Anchorage of Mobile Homes:

To insure against natural hazards such as tornados, high winds, and electrical storms, anchorage at each mobile home shall be provided according to the following:

Length	Number of Ties
Up to 30'	2 per side
30' to 50'	3 per side
50' to 70'	4 per side
Over 70'	5 per side

In addition, over-the-unit ties shall be provided as close to each end as possible with straps at stud and rafter locations.

Anchors:

Soil tests shall be made to assure that the following types of anchorage will withstand three thousand, seven hundred fifty (3,750) lbs. of pull per ten feet (10') length of mobile home:

Cross section: Auger or deadman, six inches (6") in diameter, arrowhead eight inches (8")

Depth: Auger or Arrowhead, four feet (4'); deadman, five feet (5')

Anchor rod shall be at least 5/8" diameter with welded eyes at top, and shall be hooked into concrete when used in deadman anchors

Anchors in slabs shall equal above in pull resistance

Steel Rods: 5/8" with ends welded closed to form an eye

Turnbuckles: 5/8" drop forged with closed eyes or other tensioning devices of equivalent strength

Piers and Footings: The location and design of piers and footings shall satisfy the following:

Spaced at ten feet (10') intervals on both frame rails with end over no further than five feet (5') from end of mobile home

Footings of solid concrete 16" x 16" x 4"

Piers of standard 8" x 8" x 16" solid concrete block

Treated trim shingles may be used for leveling

Pier or footing designs equivalent to the above when approved by the City

(Ordinance 173 adopted 6/7/88; Ordinance 031018 adopted 10/14/03; Ordinance 090112, sec. 3, adopted 1/22/09)

Italy City Zoning Code

§ 15 “MH