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Mobile-home-park residents, owner continue in mediation
By Nathan R. Huff
Residents of the Los Gatos Mobile Home Park and park owner Doug McNelly agree on at least one thing--they would like the Town Council to expedite the mediation process set up to determine fair compensation for residents who will be displaced by the conversion of the park.
McNelly has already filed an application to change the park into high-density residential housing--condos or townhouses--with San Jose developer Barry Swenson, but must wait for a council conversion policy and Planning Commission approval.
Council members, however, told McNelly and a number of residents at the Oct. 4 council meeting that a quick solution may not be in the cards. This is the first time the town has undergone a mobile-home-park conversion, and while council members expressed a desire to see the mediation move forward as quickly as possible, the process will be a difficult one.
"We're dealing with people's homes and property here," former planning director Lee Bowman later said. "It's not the issue of liability--chances are we'll be sued either way. We're just trying to do our best to satisfy everyone." Bowman is working on the mobile-home compensation conversion under a contract with the town.
The compensation issue centers on what "reasonable cost of relocation" entails, as well as whether or not the land the mobile homes sit on should be included in their estimated values. The town also must address how it will replace the low-income dwellings to ensure it meets state requirements for affordable housing.
The council on Aug. 2 asked the community services department to establish a town-funded house-finding program for mobile-home-park renters and to hire a mediator to meet with park and mobile-home owners.
Mediator David Finch met with all parties on Oct. 2 for what Finch described to town attorney Orry Korb as a "very cordial meeting."
"He reported that there were some fairly sharp divisions between the players regarding how to interpret the town ordinance," Korb told the council. However, Korb also noted that Finch, who earlier mediated a settlement between the owner of Los Gatos Penthouse and its residents, was optimistic that a settlement could be reached.
Finch has planned another "all hands" meeting for Oct. 13. After that, Korb said, the town would like to see the number of participants reduced.
Park residents and park owner Doug McNelly both said they were concerned about Finch's limited scheduling flexibility. Korb said Finch works normal hours, and while he can make himself available on weekends on a limited basis, he doesn't want to meet after hours.
Several council members also expressed concern about Finch's scheduling limitations.
The council instructed Korb to return on Oct. 18 with an update on mediation progress, a report on Finch's upcoming schedule and research on the possibility of hiring another mediator in case the scheduling conflict cannot be resolved.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
