MAXWELL, CA (MPG) – With limited housing in Colusa County, the Colusa County Board of Supervisors may have to expand the allowance of recreational
vehicles as temporary worker’s housing during the construction of the Sites Reservoir.
Community Services Director Greg Plucker said the zoning code already allows the use of RVs for temporary housing for construction projects, but it is likely the county will have to expand the time allowance from two years to possibly five years.
As temporary housing, RVs would be restricted to one per parcel with an occupancy agreement, compliance with water supply and septic disposal requirements, building codes, and a proper electrical supply, Plucker suggested.
The board may also consider changing the zoning code to provide additional
locations for long term housing, such as mobile home parks, where RVs are currently allowed to be used for permanent housing.
“We anticipate a very large need for worker housing as part of the Sites Reservoir project,” Plucker said, at the board’s Dec. 5 meeting. “The reality is the current housing stock will not be able to accommodate that demand.”
Supervisor Gary Evans the number of workers on the project could be 500, at the beginning plus or minus 2,000 at the peak of construction, before ramping back down.
“A lot of them won’t need to be housed here but many will,” Evans said.
“There is a need and Sites is willing to pay for any community assessment
that has to happen around the town of Maxwell.”
The Boar of Supervisors will likely introduce a zoning ordinance in early 2024 to address the critical need for temporary housing that may include amending light industrial (M-1) property in Maxwell and surrounding communities to allow mobile home parks with a conditional use permit. Currently, mobile home parks are limited to certain residential and commercial properties.
Plucker said amending M-1 zoning to permit mobile home parks, subject to a conditional use permit, will also allow for the development of service facilities, such as laundromats, convenience stores, and fast food, which could be approved as part of a comprehensive use permit.
The Colusa Indian Community Council has spoken with the Community Development Department about a possible rezoning of their M-2 (heavy industrial) property at old Highway 99 and Finks Road, in Maxwell, for a permanent mobile home park.
While Plucker said county staff has not found significant issues with a potential
rezoning of the property, such a project would have to be reviewed on its own
merits and would be subject to a normal Zoning Map amendment application.
“We do need additional housing,” Plucker said. “It wouldn’t address all the
need, but it would address part of it.”
Plucker said providing temporary and permanent housing for workers would be
a great economic driver for the county because they would be people who live
and spend money in the community.