Trailer lot limit may come in Belfield

Talk about it

BELFIELD — In an effort to curb the placement of multiple mobile homes on city lots, the Belfield Zoning Board discussed an option Tuesday that would potentially limit such homes to one per lot.

The board discussed the option while going over proposed amendments to the Belfield zoning ordinance and comprehensive plan during a regular meeting at Memorial Hall. The plan still needs approval from the City Council before going into effect.

“When we’re done, this should be much less confusing,” said zoning board member Kevin Hushka. “This is going to streamline things.”

The idea, Hushka said, is to condense current mobile home zoning rules to one clear set of guidelines. If the change is adopted, individuals would be required to place one mobile home per 7,000 square feet on a residential lot and one per 5,000 square feet in a designated mobile home district.

“We’re trying to make it so there’s not multiple trailers in a small area,” board member Ken Solberg said. “Years ago, the idea was to have narrow lots and that’s been a can of worms for a long time.”

Mobile homes currently in place would be grandfathered in under today’s rules if the plan is adopted, but those owning empty lots will have to conform to the new criteria if and when the comprehensive plan is approved by the City Council.

Due in large part to the uptick of Oil Patch activity in the nearby Bakken, Belfield has witnessed a rise in mobile home placement and usage in recent years.

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