JARRETT GOODMAN
Staff Writer
Kimball’s Board of Mayor & Aldermen recently approved the first reading of both Ordinance 298 and 299. Both pertain to mobile homes and Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU).
Ordinance 298 and 299 concerns the change and additions of city regulations for mobile home parks and added units for owned property, particularly 299 for an already built home. City Attorney William Gouger explained Ordinance 298 helps creates official zoning for mobile home parks within the community, in addition to providing regulations for zones that mobile home parks are permitted. The ordinance only applies to new mobile home parks, leaving those already developed unaffected by the newly proposed regulations.
Ordinance 299, meanwhile, allows for ADU units to officially be constructed within private property in Kimball. Under current law, residents are not allowed to construct ADU units within their developed property. However, the new ordinance aims to rectify current zoning laws and allow for added units to be constructed through new city regulations. Additionally, ADUs up to 700 square feet will be permitted for construction. However, tiny homes are not permitted to be built on lots with homes already on-site.
“This new ordinance will allow that to legally be done, and it sets size limitations, location limitations, and other limitations to where it can be done,” said Gouger.
Both ordinances, if approved by next month’s second and final reading, will allow Kimball to keep up to speed with neighboring communities and their ordinances. Jasper and South Pittsburg already allow ADU and mobile home parks within their city limits.
The board’s unanimous approval allows the first readings of Ordinances 298 and 299 to pass during this month’s meeting, the second and final reading yet to receive the go ahead until the December meeting.