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- Public candid about R1 zoning
- SUNNYSIDE (3-9-98)--Fur flew at a city council workshop last night over several issues.
Chief among substantive, long-range issues, however, were characteristics of the city's R1 zoning ordinance.
Those who live in top-of-the-line R1 zones don't want lesser homes to pop up in--for example Skyline Drive's--vacant lots. They want zoning laws to protect their property values.
Discussions set into sharp relief a difference in style between the "old" and "new" councilmen.
Recently-elected Don Vlieger said after the meeting that "these discussions used to be held in smoke-filled rooms. Now we've gotten issues out in the open so the public can see how decisions are made that affect them all."
Concerning less-than-stellar homes in stellar neighborhoods, councilman Mike Farmer said, "Word is around town that I'm against manufactured housing. Nothing could be further from the truth."
He said manufactured homes are fine in their place. But he warned the current R1 zoning ordinance doesn't protect property owners when newcomers ask to erect homes less desirable than those already built in an existing neighborhood.
Councilman Don Vlieger indicated details like larger size, a certain roof pitch, prominent eaves, and attached garages are standard in some neighborhoods.
Councilman Errol Brown said these details don't necesarily reflect a top-notch home. Some beautiful structures have flat roofs and no eaves.
Manny Sandoval, a local builder, said he believes the council is on the right track as it considers tightening R1 zoning regulations.
"Building a home on Harrison Hill is different from building it on South eleventh. We need to pay attention to what kind of home is going in," he said. He suggested a series of public hearings to nail down a good R1 zone ordinance.
Art Berger, Valley Manufactured Housing manager, was incensed that anyone would consider a VMH house in any way second class.
He chastised some council members for not touring the VMH site to see the quality built into manufactured homes. He said his firm put a home up at 32nd and Tieton Drive in Yakima, "a very nice area..and people loved it."
Then Berger said his business provides a $4-million annual payroll in Sunnyside, and pays out $1-million to local suppliers.
"With just a change of bylaws we could make that $40 million--or about $44,000 a year in sales tax revenues for the city. But if we're ignored, we won't," Berger said.
Ron Hockhhalter agreed with Berger."I live in an R2 (zone). I would alot rather have a manufactured home in my back yard than what we have," he said.
- Councilman Errol Brown said he had been through VMH facilites four times, and suggested other councilmen do the same.
- Jerry Herman, retired electrician, testified that "manufactured homes are just like cars--they depreciate in value."When people buy a used one, the first thing they ask is 'what year is it?'", he said. "There's a book on them, just like with cars."
- Max Castillo said manufactured homes are too long, too narrow, have no eaves, and make a neighborhood "look tacky". "They make neighborhoods come down in value because of this," he said.
- Dr. Jim Stevens, a member of the Friends of Sunnyside, said, "We need to focus on maintaining the nature of our neighborhoods. We should upgrade R1 zoning, or specify divisions within it," he said.
- City Planner Richard Hendrickson indicated it's difficult to codify housing standards because the devil is in the details. He said a zoning law should contain quantifiable standards like square footage, attached garages or other characteristics.
- He also said the council should specify a process by which decisons are made about a proposed home's suitability for a certain zone. He suggested the city form a Citizen Design Board to make recommendations to the Planning Commission and Council, judging building proposals case by case.
- The council set no decisions in concrete at the workshop meeting, but intends to revisit the R1 zoning issue in a March 30 meeting.