I live in a trailer on my own property. This trailer was my legal home in Fort Bragg before I bought the property, which I have been converting to a farm. It was my intention to file building plans sooner but it hasn't worked out where I can do so.
In my particular case I'm zoned R-R-5 in Division I. Code Sec. 20.168.040 - Use of a Trailer Coach. allows for the temporary use of a trailer but not to use it as a permanent home. This makes no sense to me. If my home is good enough for temporary use then it's good enough for permanent use. Furthermore, we have a lack of housing problem here in Mendocino yet the county wants to kick me out of mine. When I first moved here I couldn't find housing for a year. I did some Airbnb and also spent 60 days in the motel 6 in Fort Bragg.
I have been trying to work with the Board of Supervisors for over a year and have not been able to get any traction whatsoever. Recently, the County served me. I have asked for the complaint to be dismissed so that this can be dealt with and I'm more constructive manner but Michael Makdisi Deputy County Counsel says his client which is Mendocino County has not authorized him to do so.
I have sent four emails to you Supervisors and left three voicemails to code enforcement none of which were replied or even acknowledged. I have been trying to represent myself because I can't afford an attorney but Mr Makdisi stopped returning my emails weeks ago.
I have no idea the status of my case, whom in code enforcement is pushing this, or what I can do about it at this point.
My home was legal to live in in Fort Bragg three miles away. It should be legal to live in on my own property. I had the well tested and installed all of the pumps, pressure tanks and piping.
The septic system was designed by Carl Rittiman. That is where the waste is pumped.
I intend to build something using a class k permit eventually. I have changed my mind three times about what the most appropriate structure would be. I'm a great engineer and engineering manager but I don't know anything about constructing a new home. The other impediment is I need to be able to make money here in Mendocino in order to file permits and build something, which I have not yet been able to do. I have converted a property that sat dormant for 10 years into a small farm. I have put a lot of investment and hard work into this property. It's a great spot for farming, it's warmer here than the surrounding area. This was the first year I hoped to make positive income and then the coronavirus hit.
Additionally, the county restricts my ability to make additional income from my property. The county has denied me a the business license because of the violation of 20.168.040 but I can't find anything in the code that supports that. Because I have been unable to get a business license I have missed two Grant cycles through the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce and it has limited what I can sell. Again this makes no sense. I need income to move forward.
There are so many great reasons to be allowed to live in my tiny home. My carbon footprint is climate positive. It is 1.5 metric tons per year, but the farm sequesters carbon which is what makes me climate positive. The global target to combat global warming is 2.0. The average footprint for people in the United States is 16.49. I need to be sure when I build a structure that I don't pass 2.0 and that's going to take a lot of planning. I don't think climate change is accounted for in any building codes or Mendocino code.
Why is it that the Board of Supervisors has ignored my pleas to review the situation and modify the code and why is it Mendocino County thought the best course of action was to serve me court papers rather than work with me in a constructive manner?
After today's meeting I will send two more emails.
One will be an update of the latest information in the case against me.
The other will be to constructively discuss and move forward with modifying the code in the future to something that makes sense. I look forward to finally getting a response. I will be submitting public comment in the next Supervisors' meeting so that all of your constituents can hear what progress has or has not been made.
I live in a trailer on my own property. This trailer was my legal home in Fort Bragg before I bought the property, which I have been converting to a farm. It was my intention to file building plans sooner but it hasn't worked out where I can do so.
In my particular case I'm zoned R-R-5 in Division I. Code Sec. 20.168.040 - Use of a Trailer Coach. allows for the temporary use of a trailer but not to use it as a permanent home. This makes no sense to me. If my home is good enough for temporary use then it's good enough for permanent use. Furthermore, we have a lack of housing problem here in Mendocino yet the county wants to kick me out of mine. When I first moved here I couldn't find housing for a year. I did some Airbnb and also spent 60 days in the motel 6 in Fort Bragg.
I have been trying to work with the Board of Supervisors for over a year and have not been able to get any traction whatsoever. Recently, the County served me. I have asked for the complaint to be dismissed so that this can be dealt with and I'm more constructive manner but Michael Makdisi Deputy County Counsel says his client which is Mendocino County has not authorized him to do so.
I have sent four emails to you Supervisors and left three voicemails to code enforcement none of which were replied or even acknowledged. I have been trying to represent myself because I can't afford an attorney but Mr Makdisi stopped returning my emails weeks ago.
I have no idea the status of my case, whom in code enforcement is pushing this, or what I can do about it at this point.
My home was legal to live in in Fort Bragg three miles away. It should be legal to live in on my own property. I had the well tested and installed all of the pumps, pressure tanks and piping.
The septic system was designed by Carl Rittiman. That is where the waste is pumped.
I intend to build something using a class k permit eventually. I have changed my mind three times about what the most appropriate structure would be. I'm a great engineer and engineering manager but I don't know anything about constructing a new home. The other impediment is I need to be able to make money here in Mendocino in order to file permits and build something, which I have not yet been able to do. I have converted a property that sat dormant for 10 years into a small farm. I have put a lot of investment and hard work into this property. It's a great spot for farming, it's warmer here than the surrounding area. This was the first year I hoped to make positive income and then the coronavirus hit.
Additionally, the county restricts my ability to make additional income from my property. The county has denied me a the business license because of the violation of 20.168.040 but I can't find anything in the code that supports that. Because I have been unable to get a business license I have missed two Grant cycles through the Mendocino Coast Chamber of Commerce and it has limited what I can sell. Again this makes no sense. I need income to move forward.
There are so many great reasons to be allowed to live in my tiny home. My carbon footprint is climate positive. It is 1.5 metric tons per year, but the farm sequesters carbon which is what makes me climate positive. The global target to combat global warming is 2.0. The average footprint for people in the United States is 16.49. I need to be sure when I build a structure that I don't pass 2.0 and that's going to take a lot of planning. I don't think climate change is accounted for in any building codes or Mendocino code.
Why is it that the Board of Supervisors has ignored my pleas to review the situation and modify the code and why is it Mendocino County thought the best course of action was to serve me court papers rather than work with me in a constructive manner?
After today's meeting I will send two more emails.
One will be an update of the latest information in the case against me.
The other will be to constructively discuss and move forward with modifying the code in the future to something that makes sense. I look forward to finally getting a response. I will be submitting public comment in the next Supervisors' meeting so that all of your constituents can hear what progress has or has not been made.
Thank you.