BRADENTON BEACH – At the March 20 commission meeting, commissioners considered Ordinance 25-563, which would allow hurricane-impacted homeowners to place a temporary shelter – an RV or trailer – on their residential property for up to three years following the governor’s declaration of a state of emergency while repairs to the home are being made.
“The ordinance will accommodate individuals who have suffered a loss of their homes from the hurricanes with an immediate way of continuing to stay on the Island in a temporary shelter,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said.
Commissioner Ralph Cole asked Perry to define allowable temporary shelter.
“The statute (Florida Statute 125.023) that I referenced says for the purpose of this section the term ‘temporary shelter’ includes but is not limited to a recreational vehicle, a trailer or similar structure placed on a residential property,” Perry said.
According to the ordinance, “All recreational vehicles and park trailers shall be fully licensed and ready for highway use, which means the recreational vehicle or park trailer is on wheels or jacking system (wheel-based unit), is attached to the site only by quick-disconnect type utilities and security devices for water, sewer and electric.”
Permanent attachments, such as stairs, decks and porches are not allowed.
Bradenton Beach resident Betsy Sillars has been displaced from her home since Hurricane Helene on Sept. 26.
“We took a big hit, we cannot live in it and we’ve been in a hotel for five months,” she said.
She said she and her husband are actively looking for a trailer and asked about size restrictions, placement and screening.
“Let’s try to make this as easy as we possibly can,” Cole said.
Commissioner Deborah Scaccianoce said she is working on the permit form.
“Basically what we need is a site plan,” she said. “You apply for the permit. You put the dimensions of the trailer, where you want to put it. If it’s large, they’re going to require you to screen it so that it’s not unsightly for people around you.”
An addition to the ordinance was made requiring the property owner to remove the trailer from the property in the event of a storm event for safety reasons.
The second reading of the ordinance will be at the Thursday, April 3 city commission meeting.
