Friday, October 11, 1996

Council OKs mobile homes for elderly care

By ANTHONY WILSON
Staff Writer

Abilenians living in rural areas may park mobile homes on their property to care for sick or elderly relatives, the City Council decided Thursday.

The decision ended Sheila Jones' three-month struggle to care for her 93-year-old grandmother and her stroke-ridden mother at the family homestead at 1601 Griffith without breaking the law.
Jones' family thanked the council for allowing their elders to "live out their lives in dignity without being herded around."

"This works for us," said Steve Hood, the family spokesman. "We just want to care for our family. The city is making an effort to oblige the needs of people. I can't say enough about this council."
City officials believe the issue will grow as baby boomers age and their children consider how to care for them.

Under the new ordinance, citizens can move trailers alongside homes in agricultural/open space zones for up to two years with the permission of the Board of Adjustments. The permits can be renewed as long as a trailer is used to care for elderly or infirm relatives.

Mobile homes must be removed within three months when they no longer fulfill that purpose.
The ordinance does not address temporary housing in residential neighborhoods, an issue some at City Hall say must be examined.

Jones must now apply for a special exception from the Board of Adjustments, a request City Manager Lanny Lambert said will "hopefully" be approved.

In other business, the council:

--- APPROVED the purchase of two trolley buses. The buses, built to resemble trolleys, will assume CityLink's downtown route when they arrive next fall.

Of the $497,000 purchase price, federal funding will cover $397,600, state funding $58,500, downtown reinvestment taxes $29,400, and Downtown Association contributions $11,500. No local general fund taxes will be used in the purchase.

--- ACCEPTED a downtown parking report recommending the city step up enforcement of parking laws, sell vouchers to businesses to cover their customers' tickets, and educate the public not to expect to park directly in front of their destination.

Downtown restaurateur Sheldon Greene cited a study reporting that despite the public perception of parking problems downtown, most people park within one block of their destination.
The council asked city staff to study implementing the recommendations.