Interim housing ordinance extended to June
PARADISE » The Paradise Town Council voted 5- 0 to extend the Housing Urgency Ordinance which allows Camp Fire survivors to live on their property in an RV with a Temporary Use Permit for six months, with the ability to extend for an additional six months on a case by case basis.
The town was set to allow the ordinance to expire at the end of the year before Tuesday night’s decision.
Community Development Director, Susan Hartman, noted that COVID-19 has also complicated the rebuild opportunities for residents along with a shortage of materials.
“But it really comes down to, and this is no surprise, time and finances,” Hartman said. “That’s what they need to bridge the gap between interim housing and permanent housing, which is where we’re trying to get people to.”
The town council initially approved the Interim Housing Urgency Ordinance after the Camp Fire to ease the housing crisis in the aftermath of the disaster by allowing Camp Fire survivors to live on their property in a temporary living situation, such as an RV, by meeting the conditions required in the Temporary Use Permit.
The town has learned that residents are facing major obstacles that are financial and needing more time.
The extension had applied to those who:
• Have submitted a building permit application
• Have signed a contract with a builder
• Have signed a contract for a manufactured home
• Are working with a Town housing specialist or state agency on a housing program
• Have signed a contract with a plans designer. Hartman also noted that by next spring the town will have multi-family housing units available online that will be for residents waiting to rebuild.
By the end of 2021, the Town also expects 150 multi-family housing units currently under construction to be available, providing an alternative housing solution for those who are ultimately unable to rebuild.
All of the speakers told the council that they wanted that extension to give themsleves the time to get re-built. Some of them of didn’t like being called sqautters and didn’t like that the town’s position.
Randy Demire told the council that he was just back intown a year ago and noted several issues, including a tree that hangs over where his home would sit. He said that his property has water, septic and electricity.
“I feel like you just don’t want us here,” he said. “We just got back here and I feel you’re saying you got to go. Just not fair, we just need more time. What’s one more year? It’s not going to kill anybody, just onemore year.”
He said that the money he’s spent is a waste, if the town didn’t extend the deadline.
While the council voted 5- 0, councilor Jody Jones showed photos of residents who believe that are in violation of the rules and that code enforcement wasn’t enforcing. Among those were porta-potties on properties without septic.
She argued that people may take advantage of the extension.
However, Hartman noted that when some people were permitted to occupy their properties, they were allowed to have one. However, as the town has updated the emergency ordinances, some of the uses were no longer allowed.
“So I understand that (residents) may not have been following all of the recent updates to the ordinance,” she said. “So when he find them we note them.”
Hartman said they will be looking for those who do not have permits and will inform those who are using porta-potties that updated ordinances no longer allow that.