San Jose City Council passes moratorium on sale of mobile home parks

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A reprieve came Tuesday night for thousands of people who were fearful they would be forced from their South Bay homes. The San Jose City Council passed a moratorium that stalls the sale and development of mobile home parks, which some consider the last affordable housing left here in the Bay Area.

With nearly 60 mobile home parks in San Jose, the six-month moratorium is welcomed relief.

Winchester Ranch is a retirement community where residents have been notified of the owners' intent to sell the property.

San Jose is the largest city in Silicon Valley and the city council has the potential to set a precedent for protecting vulnerable populations.

Mobile home owners took to the podium in San Jose's city hall Tuesday night.

"Admittedly, there is no affordable place to move to currently in the valley," one woman said.

They support a moratorium proposed by San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo and several council members that would halt the sale and development of mobile home parks, at least temporarily.

"There are economic forces at work that obviously look at this land as valuable land for development at a higher density," Liccardo said.

The city has 59 mobile home parks. Some of the owners like those of Winchester Ranch want to sell.

Davlyn Jones moved to Winchester Ranch to retire after selling her Willow Glen home in 2009. She told ABC7 News, "At some point in time, you retire and then you die, but they want to close the park. I don't know what we're supposed to do; we're supposed to die someplace else?"

Not all park owners plan to sell and some managers are working with the city.

The city council voted unanimously in favor of a six-month moratorium. It's time for city staff to meet with residents and park owners, then potentially update the city's current closure ordinance with more protections for residents.

"You're going to be one of the seniors trying to find a place to stay. You're going to end up in Mexican Hat, Utah if they have anything to say about it," Jones said.

Staff will present the official moratorium in two weeks and it will go into effect after another council vote.