After a long period of comments from representatives of Pandion Ridge and the Orange Beach City Council, the request to allow for “park model” units at Pandion Ridge was denied.
According to a Pandion Ridge presentation packet, a park model RV (PMRV) is a unique trailer-type RV that is designed to provide temporary accommodation for recreation, camping or seasonal use. PMRVs are titled and registered just like any other RV. Due to their design, small size and use as recreation, vacation and seasonal units, PMRVs are explicitly excluded from being considered or used as a manufactured home under the codes and regulations of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Park Models are defined as:
- Unique trailer-type RV’s designed to provide temporary accommodations.
-Built on a single chassis, mounted on wheels, and have a gross trailer area not exceeding 400 square feet.
-Built to the same ANSI A119.5 standards as RV’s.
-Designed to remain on its axles and wheels.
-Considered one choice among many (recreational vehicles, travel trailers, fifth-wheel trailers) in the RV camping environment.
-Are not tiny homes.
Councilwoman Annette Mitchell, who sits on the Planning Commission as well, spoke out against the change, particularly the stationary nature of the park models.
“I sort of take issue with the lack of provision to remove them because they are not built to our codes,” Mitchell said. “There are a lot of residential neighborhoods down the street form here. I’m just really questioning whether this would be a good fit for Orange Beach because there’s no way to move those. I see you have porches built on and all kinds of little amenities covering the wheels. That’s a concern to me.”
Mitchell also voiced concerns about short-term renters and people who would see this as a low-price alternative to the condos by the beach.
Councilman Jeff Boyd said if Pandion Ridge had proposed this modification in its initial PUD, it might not have been approved at all.
“I like the idea,” Boyd said. “I think it’s a profitable model, but for Orange Beach and what we have fought and what we approve, I don’t think there’s any reason to say ‘Sure, bring these in and strap them down.’ They’re mini mobile homes, and we’re getting rid of mobile homes for safety reasons.”
Mayor Tony Kennon said the main concern was about the structure itself.
“I mean, if a tornado comes through, there’s no difference being in that than an RV,” Kennon said. “So, that’s not a concern with me. There would be a concern with a hurricane and scattered debris because they would blow. There’s no telling where they’d end up.”
Kennon also spoke to the additional traffic that these models would attract.
“Every car that we add to the island is probably one car too many from this point forward,” Kennon said. “Here, you’re taking a space where there would have only been one vehicle and possibly adding two or three. In some cases you’re doubling or tripling the amount of vehicles which would go against what we saw as a development.”
Kennon said moving forward the amount of vehicles a development brings is something the council is going to be scrutinizing and judging each new property on in equal measure.
The modification was voted down unanimously.
Approved at the meeting were:
- Resolution authorizing the execution of a task order with Sawgrass Consulting, LLC, to provide a master storm water analysis for the Orange Beach Recreation Complex in an amount not to exceed $22,500.
- Resolution authorizing the execution of a subaward grant agreement with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) for the RESTORE Act-funded "Lower Perdido Bay/Perdido Pass Navigation Project Hydrological Modeling and Sediment Budget Study" in an amount not to exceed $475,000.
- Resolution authorizing the execution of a professional services agreement with Shelter Planners of America for a needs assessment study and conceptual design for a new joint animal shelter.
- Resolution authorizing the purchase of a dozer for the Refuse Department through the National Intergovernmental Purchasing Alliance (NIPA) in the amount of $150,981.38.
- Resolution authorizing the purchase of real property from God is Bidden Properties, LLC, and authorizing the mayor to negotiate and execute a real estate purchase agreement and such other documents as may be required to close the transactions.
