News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Cookeville City Council approved an ordinance Thursday night that establishes guidelines for recreational vehicles in non-conforming mobile home parks.
After the Cookeville Planning Commission offered additional changes to the amendment, the council returned some of the language originally in the amendment. That language includes prohibiting folding campers and pop-ups, prohibiting skirting, and limiting occupancy in an RV in the same spot to 180 days. Community Development Director Jon Ward said the Planning and Codes Department noticed discrepancies in 2022, and this clears that up.
“Based on some discrepancies we discovered, we have worked with our city attorney for legal interpretations on how we should proceed to deal with this, and with our legal council and our research, this is what we propose is our path forward,” Ward said.
Cookeville currently has 10 nonconforming mobile home parks, all of which are grandfathered in under previous regulations. This will also prohibit wrecked or inoperable vehicles and prohibit decks and porches from being added to RVs.
“There is nothing that would prohibit you from staying in compliance if you move the unit from one space to another,” Ward said. “That just proves that it is still temporary and not more permanent in nature.”
The ordinance revolves largely around defining a recreational vehicle. Ward said the Tennessee Code defines an RV as a motor vehicle primarily designed as temporary living quarters for recreational camping or travel. The changes approved by the council will limit the opportunity to use an RV as permanent housing at mobile home parks.
In other business, the council approved a change order to the engineering agreement with Clinton Engineering for design services for the widening of West Stevens Street. City Manager James Mills said the project was completed last year, but due to the recent completion of two town-home developments nearby, modifications to the completed street widening are needed. Clinton Engineering has agreed to complete these modifications for a lump sum of $14,500.
City Council also approved the purchase of 1.62 acres on Gould Drive for the construction of Fire Station Three. City Manager James Mills said the city hopes to find land for the reconstruction of Fire Station Two as well, opening up the possibility of having one architect design both.
