SVCAC backs closure of Siesta Way trailer park

The Sonoma Valley Citizens Advisory Commission last week considered developer Milestone Housing’s proposal to close down the Oak Park Trailer Court off Siesta Way -- and voted 7-3 to back the project, with an eye toward supporting the planned 92-unit affordable housing for seniors.

But, SVCAC members said at their June 17 meeting, that before that is to happen, Milestone needs to get its proposal past the Bureau of Zoning Adjustments, perhaps the most critical step in shutting down the existing trailer park. That BZA hearing takes place on Thursday, June 25.

“The situation is so unusual, and the fast tracking of obtaining the closure permit is without precedent,” said Ann Colichidas, the local voice for the Golden State Manufactured-Home Owners League (GSMOL), which advocates for residents of manufactured-home communities in California.

“We protect homeowners’ rights through legislation and advocacy in the state of California and locally,” she added. “A park closure is a major development.”

The proposal before the SVCAC, and the one coming before Board of Zoning Adjustments this week, was not specifically about the planned senior living apartment complex – housing many argue is badly needed in Sonoma Valley – but about the closure of the trailer park and the relocation of its residents. The park’s owner, Shashikant Singapuri, is among the applicants for the project.

The Oak Park court is barely visible to most Sonomans but, according to the project application, 12 family units of 23 people live on the property in three owner-occupied mobile homes, plus nine tenant-occupied accommodations including a stick-built single family residence, five travel trailers, and three mobile homes, ranging in age from 17 to 40 years old.

All of the residents would be relocated and given housing support, following a six-month notice to vacate. That notice was delivered to the residents on June 9. A chart of mobile home parks within a 30-mile radius of 171 Siesta Way, the address of Oak Park Trailer Court, shows that Oak Park is the smallest park in the area, out of 40 listed parks.

Milestone, a new face in the local affordable housing market, is comprised of several executives from other affordable-housing development companies. They hope to secure the county’s approval to move ahead with the project by June 30, in time to utilize federal funds made available by the county in response to the fires of 2017 and 2018.

“We will be competing for federal low income tax credits this summer as administered by the California Tax Credit Allocation Committee.,” said Marcus Griffin of Milestone. “There is a special pool of $150 million in these credits made available to affordable housing developers with sites in Sonoma County.”

During the virtual meeting, commission members questioned whether the proposed parcel – 2.92 acres, from two adjoining lots – was large enough to accommodate a 92-apartment community.

The motion that passed the SVCAC in support of the closure came with a several concerns from commission members: traffic on Siesta Way, which residents say is already bad; fire safety and access and egress from the complex; the visual impact of the apartment building, which at 42 feet and three stories high is taller than anything in the surrounding neighborhoods; and better engagement with the neighbors who were under-informed of the pending project.

Colichidas also raised concerns about information available to the trailer park residents.

“This is all being done so quickly and county offices still have (voicemail responses) stating that they are not able to answer the phones, and return emails warn the same,” said Colichidas. “This is a terrible stress for the homeowners there. There are many questions and a need to bear witness to this process.”

Griffin said that he expects to return with a formal application for Design Review Committee approval in September.

The council voted to approve 7-3, with councilmembers Jack Ding, Ditty Vella and Thomas Martin voting no.

Email Christian at christian.kallen@sonomanews.com.