County Ordinance Maintains Senior Living at Orcutt Mobile Home Park
Jarrod Zinn
ORCUTT, Calif. – The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously on ordinances last week maintaining that certain mobile home communities in the county are designated senior communities.
This is a win for some and a loss for others.
There are thousands of low-income seniors looking for housing stability, and senior mobile home parks offer a safe haven for many.
This ordinance was designed to help seniors, but not everyone is pleased.
Last week, Santa Barbara County Supervisors approved ordinances aimed at protecting mobile home parks, especially those designated as 55-and-older communities.
Despite championing the vote, Santa Barbara county supervisor Bob Nelson had to recuse himself because he recently inherited a mobile home property.
One of the parks that falls under these ordinances is Del Cielo Mobile Estates in Orcutt.
For the last two years, the property owners of Del Cielo, Harmony Communities, have been attempting to change the parameters at the estates to include residents of all ages.
“Harmony communities has deliberately ignored the moratorium that was put into place by this body. This board,” said Del Cielo resident Gary Halter at last week’s board of supervisor’s meeting. “In October of last year, all residents of Del Cielo received park rules and regulations effective May 24th of this year. They have contacted every real estate office in Santa Maria and surrounding areas, insisting they advertise Del Cielo as an all age park, then followed through with approving only non senior buyers.”
But long-time senior residents of Del Cielo since before Harmony Communities entered the picture have made efforts to maintain the community as it was established in 1963, for those over 55.
Another senior resident of Del Cielo, Beth Kaiser, listed several inconveniences residents are dealing with. “The pool has remained unheated and for the last month and a half, the pool shower, spa and bathrooms have been out of order,” says Kaiser. “They finally became available this past Sunday because of this meeting, and hopefully they will assume we are old and will therefore forget.”
Harmony Communities has maintained Del Cielo wasn’t officially a senior park and they have a right to make changes.
They sent us the following statement:
“Over a year ago, we formalized what had always been true, Del Cielo was never a senior park. We updated our rules to reflect that, so the county’s senior overlay doesn’t apply. That change has opened the door to affordable homeownership for families long shut out by redlining style policies. Our community is becoming more diverse, and that’s something to celebrate, not fear. We’re committed to providing affordable housing for people of all ages, races, and creeds. Unfortunately, the Board of Supervisors seems more focused on protecting a vocal, wealthier base and advancing outdated unfair policies.”
“To those seniors who live in these mobile home parks that I’m honored to represent you,” said board supervisor and chairperson Laura Capps at the meeting. “I have a few of them in my district. And you’re so organized. Everybody votes there. Everybody’s active, it’s amazing.”
Senior residents hope these new ordinances will strengthen their case at Del Cielo and other properties.
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