Comments on: Century Denies Variance So Man Can Live In Too Small Mobile Home

By: just tired

just tired — Sat, 11 Aug 2012 04:42:06 +0000

I would like to know the width of the FEMA trailers, they don’t seem to be any wider than the trailer in question. Someone needs to check this out. And what about people who live in camper trailers? How do they get approval to live in them. It all seems very suspicious to me.

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 19:10:32 +0000

If Brian could afford to renovate the trailer (if that’s even possible) or move it, he probably would not have asked for a variance. It would be nice if we could follow up on this story to see how things turn out for him. He’s really in between a rock and a hard place. I wonder how much time he has to move the trailer and if there are fines if he can’t move it. I understand rules and laws have to be followed (and not knowing the rules/laws is never an acceptable excuse), but I can’t help but feel sympathy for someone who seems to be “trying” to do the right thing. In most similar situations, that’s not always true.

By: nodcoop

nodcoop — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 17:45:15 +0000

simple, just pit a false 12″ front on each side and then it will be 14′ wide

By: mom

mom — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 16:33:55 +0000

Leave the guy alone.

These are hard times

We need to RID SOME OF THESE DUMB RULES.

By: nopeitwasntme

nopeitwasntme — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:36:10 +0000

I live in a 2001 14 x 56 mobile home, on the title it says 56 feet, when measuring the living space i only have 14 x 52 , they count the tongue as extra feet.
I also have a 1973 12×60 it measures the 12×60 without the tongue! The 1973 is a better built home with more living space and easier to cool and heat. where the 2001 is not so easy to cool with electric bills going asd much as $400 a month during the summer. Our town has the trailer ordinance also that it was be 10 years or newer and a certain square footage living space.
My plans since i got it approved is to remodel the older trailer, I have installed all new windows,door’s,plumbing, wiring and working on the the sheet rock in ceiling. I will move into it when completed, it is just a better built trailer. My figures shows about $3500 to be complete and look new. Time’s are very hard , the older trailers to me are better built. yes i agree that theyt should not be parked by nice houses, Some think diffrent but i know for a fact that you cant take nothing with you when you die. Also the way things have been going haveing a house paid with this economy is a plus. People should be able to own a home they and have the money to save for the future. I read all the time people living in card board box’s or tents. No need for alot of that when they can work towards having there on home.
So Let this guy do any repairs if needed and let the council decide if its up to code then. If you can see a model T driving down the road witha tag must mean the state of alabama thinks its safe to drive and look how old that is. Parts for a mobile home are cheap, its cheap living. Me myself and I do not want a morgage payment , could lose it and i do not want too!
If it looks good, the work is put into it, then it should be able to be lived in .
When i am thru with the remodel only thing will show you its older is the roof, Im not going to change what doesnt need fixing .
It’s just a mobile home, if it looks nice let it be and pass it! The low income apartments come’s out of the goverment and our pockets so not let this man have his own home and not at the peoples expenses, At least he is trying ! Alot don’t!

By: BOGIAN

BOGIAN — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 13:13:06 +0000

Too bad this guy couldn’t get a variance. It sounds like an out of state company has put him in this spot through no fault of his own. I am sure this person will do all of his homework next time.

What most alarms me is the Council. It looks like only one person on the Council knows what a variance is and why they are necessary at times. From the quotes, three members of the Council have hard line stances against any and all variances. One goes so far as to suggest that granting this man a variance would be tantamount to doing away with all zoning. This is a gross oversimplification.

If the Council as a whole had granted the variance after thought and consideration, that would have been fine. That is not what happened here. Three of the Council members just denied the variance because they, apparently, do not believe variances should ever be allowed. While I am sure they mean well, their position is way off base. They were elected to give thoughtful consideration to the reasonable requests of the citizens of Century. Unfortunately for this guy, some of the Council members just didn’t give it to him.

By: Thinking--

Thinking-- — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 02:04:06 +0000

Go by the rules or don’t have the rules! It really is that simple folks.

By: molinojim

molinojim — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 01:17:54 +0000

Maybe the key word is “OLD” mobile home. We had some one try to move a “used” mobile home into our area. There was pink insulation up and down the road. Some one call county inspection (it was not me) and the mobile home was so bad that they were told they could not live in it. They were going to run a garden hose to a well for water. There was a leaking sewer hose that was to have run down into the woods behind it. They could not understand why they could not get a permit to live in it. While I can feel sorry for this fellow—- where do you draw the line?

By: mel

mel — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 22:11:22 +0000

@ Sam, come on! Get real, If he has a 12 by 60 home, Do you really think It would be beside a higher priced home in a higher priced area? No, I don’t think so. So I don’t think you would have to worry about that.!

By: sam

sam — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 21:54:21 +0000

without seeing the location i defer to the town. if he’s moving next to other mobile homes, no problem. if he’s moving next to people that have property they pay high taxes on. I see a problem. their property value is trashed. got to have rules.