1.   General Description. The purpose of this article is to provide certain minimum standards for the location of mobile homes in mobile home parks to the mutual advantage of mobile home occupants and the City at large. New districts may be zoned when petitioned or as needed. This specialized district is, therefore, not pre-located, and is to be considered as a specially located district dependent on the developing surrounding land-use patterns. It is to be treated as a residential dwelling development of greater density than other residential districts.

2.   Principal Uses Permitted. Property and buildings in a Mobile Home Park District (R-M) will be used only for the following purposes:

   A.   Mobile home park, constructed, maintained, and operated, in accordance with this Code as specified herein, Chapter 435 of the Code of Iowa, and Section 661, Chapter 16, Division VI of the Iowa Administrative Code.

   B.   Common facilities, including restrooms, recreational facilities, laundry facilities, snack bar, playgrounds, etc., operated by the mobile home park for use of all permanent and temporary residents of the mobile home park.

   C.   One indirectly lighted sign may be erected facing each public street upon which the mobile home park fronts, showing the name of the mobile home park and other information pertinent thereto; provided that such sign will not have an area of more than 32 square feet.

   D.   Accessory uses or buildings which are customarily incidental to any of the above stated uses.

3.   Height Regulations. No principal building will exceed 15 feet in height.

4.   Mobile Home Park Area, Lot Area, Lot Width, and Yard Requirements. The following minimum park area, lot area, lot width, and yard requirements will apply:

   A.   Minimum Total Mobile Home Park Area. The minimum total Mobile Home Park area for any designated mobile home park will be not less than four acres.

   B.   Lot Area. The minimum mobile home lot area will be not less than 4,000 square feet.

   C.   Lot Width. The minimum lot width for any mobile home lot will be not less than 40 feet and where abutting any other residentially zoned district will be not less than 50 feet.

   D.   Yard Requirements. Generally, all lots will be so designed that the mobile homes are oriented to the right side of the lot when the mobile home is viewed from a point in front of the hitch of the mobile home. Further conditions include:

      (1)   Front Yard Depth. The front yard depth will be not less than 15 feet.

      (2)   Side Yard Widths. Side yard requirements will be based on the specified location of wheel ramps. Each lot will be developed for double-wide mobile homes having a width of not less 22 feet. In no case will the right side yard be less than five feet and any side yard on any lot abutting another residentially zoned district will be not less than 15 feet.

5.   Density. The allowable residential density in this zoning district will not exceed 10.89 dwelling units per acre, except under the provisions of a PDD.

6.   Floor Area Ratio. The allowable floor area ratio in this zoning district will not exceed 0.4.

7.   Minimum Spacing Between Buildings. Mobile homes will be located on each lot so that there will be at least a 20-foot clear separation between each mobile home, including any permanently enclosed appendage, and any driveway, walkway, or mobile home at the rear of the mobile home. Further, one additional building suitable for storage as opposed to habitation may be built on a mobile home lot, provided that such building has a floor area not more than 120 square feet, and provided that such building is located to align with the rear of a mobile home and is not closer than 12 feet to any mobile home or other such storage building.

8.   Other Requirements. Other lot requirements and conditions for mobile home parks include, but are not limited to, the following:

   A.   Generally.

      (1)   A patio of not less than 180 square feet, (for example 9’x20’), and a four-foot sidewalk will be provided for each mobile home lot and will be located immediately adjacent to the left-hand side of the mobile home. Patios and sidewalks will be constructed of Portland cement concrete, with a minimum thickness of four inches.

      (2)   No enclosed porch, deck, canopy, or other addition will be built onto any mobile home in any mobile home park.

      (3)   Unless otherwise specifically provided for in the rezoning amendment action or the subdivision development and review process, two-wheel ramps constructed of six-inch-thick Portland cement concrete will be provided for each lot. Each ramp will be not less than two feet in width by not less than 54 feet in length.

   B.   Off-Street Parking. Two off-street parking spaces, as defined, per mobile home lot will be provided.

9.   Plan Required. Each petition for a change to the Mobile Home Park District submitted to the City will be accompanied by a mobile home park plat prepared in accordance with the provisions this chapter, except as otherwise provided for herein below, Chapter 435 of the Code of Iowa, and Section 661, Chapter 16, of the Iowa Administrative Code.

   A.   Planned Development District. When a mobile home park is developed as a part of a planned development district within an approved Mobile Home Park District, the specific provisions of platting and orientation of the mobile homes to each other and to the streets and other public services may be varied to provide an aesthetically pleasing layout. However, overall density standards will be maintained.

   B.   Subdivision Requirements. The provisions of this chapter will apply except as specifically provided for in Section 170.21(9)(C).

   C.   Exceptions to Subdivision Requirements.

      (1)   Streets and Sidewalks. Streets required to provide through-service will be located at the rear of lots in a mobile home park. All other streets will be developed in such a manner as to discourage through-traffic. Sidewalks will be required only on streets providing through-traffic service.

      (2)   Blocks. The width of blocks will be not less than 200 feet.

      (3)   Easements. Easements along rear lot lines will be as provided in other sections. Easements alongside lot lines will be confined to the left lot line and will be not less than 10 feet in width.

      (4)   Utilities. All utility connection facilities will be conveniently located on the right side of the lot line of each mobile home lot.

      (5)   Common Facilities and Parking Areas. A parking area, equivalent in size to one parking space per lot, suitable for storage of boats, travel trailers, extra automobiles, and other equipment not allowed on individual lots will be provided as well as common park facilities as outlined herein.

   D.   Requirements of Mobile Home Parks. Items noted in this section are related specifically to and are unique to mobile home parks.

      (1)   Metering Water and Sewer Service. Water and sewer service will be metered by means of meters for individual lots constructed in freeze-protected pits, or otherwise as built to City specifications, or by means of a common service to the entire park with rates established by the City, at the discretion of the City.

      (2)   Gas Service. May be provided by means of natural gas provided by a franchised gas utility or by means of liquefied petroleum (LP) gas provided in 500-gallon containers owned by the mobile home park.

      (3)   Connection and Freeze Protection. The connection and freeze protection of water, sewer, and gas services will be the responsibility of the mobile home park and will be in compliance with established building codes.

      (4)   Skirting. All mobile homes will be skirted i.e., will have the entire underneath portion of the mobile home enclosed so as to prevent animals from intruding beneath the home, provide for improved insulation, and improve the appearance of the mobile home.

      (5)   Landscaping. Landscaping of all lots will consist of sod or suitable seeding with grass and a minimum of two live trees of not less than six feet in height as a part of the initial development. Two or more shrubs or other plantings per lot will be used to delineate rear lot lines and/or promote a pleasing appearance to the park as a whole.

      (6)   Fences. Fences are prohibited on lots occupied by mobile homes.

      (7)   Solid Waste. The City’s solid waste regulations, policies, and procedures will apply in mobile home parks.

      (8)   Pre-Existing Mobile Home Parks. Any mobile home park established and operating before the effective date of this Zoning Code, or one which, by virtue of annexation, will come under the provisions of this Zoning Code will be required to substantially meet the requirements of this Zoning Code within a period of three years following the official date of annexation. This will be accomplished by means of the owner submitting preliminary and final plats for the site(s) involved. Permits or applications of any nature will not be issued after the three-year period without an approved final plat.

      (9)   Travel Trailers. Specific lots in a mobile home park may be designated for use by travel trailers, if so designated during the platting process, and provided that the following provisions of this section are met:

         a.   A minimum of 1,000 square feet will be required for each travel trailer, exclusive of streets and off-site driveways but including one parking space.

         b.   Each site will have a minimum of a 50-ampere electric service and water and sewer hookups. Each individual travel trailer lot will be metered for water, sewer, and electricity.

         c.   Travel trailer sites will be conveniently located in proximity to common facilities.

         d.   Permanent surfacing will be provided for the portions of each site used for entrance or egress of the travel trailer and parking for one car. The pad for the travel trailer will be not less than 12 feet wide and 30 feet long.

         e.   No travel trailer will occupy a space in any mobile home park in the City for more than 14 consecutive days nor more than 30 days in any calendar year.

         f.   Tents are prohibited and allowed only as otherwise provided for herein.

      (10)   Park Owner Responsibilities. The owner will place on file with the Clerk, copies of all regulations and covenants in effect for the mobile home park. Such regulations will provide for the health, safety, and well-being of park residents insofar as is possible and will at a minimum require that:

         a.   No trash or unsightly items will be allowed on any mobile home lot.

         b.   Grass will be regularly mowed, and trees and shrubs will be maintained.

         c.   The storage of boats, travel trailers, and other equipment on mobile home sites is prohibited.

         d.   The owner will enforce all rules in effect. Failure to do so will be a violation of this Code.

      (11)   Residents Responsibilities. All permanent residents of mobile homes will arrange for utility services, including established deposits for same, unless otherwise provided for herein. Residents will abide by park regulations as established. Regulations become a part of the associated zoning amendment proceedings and may be changed or modified only by action of the Board of Adjustment.