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‘Mayor and Councj1 December 13,

The recommendation that the Committee would make on this particular subject thare-

fore is: :

(1) There is a need for mobile home sites

(2) Mobile home parks appear to be a profitable venture ox at least could give
the City a fair veturn on investment. In addition to the City's revenue
from the mobile home spaces there. would be a return from the individual
occupants of the mobile homes by way of taxes. Mobile homes must now be
assessed and taxed as improvements and therefore pay taxes based on their
value. Further research is required on this point as the problem that
Alderman Ranger, has pointed out previously to Council on trailer taxation
still exists. That is, that being based on value the trailers depreciate
in value rapidly and therefore the tax levied diminishes over the years.
This problem may not be as bad on a good quality trailer park with good
quality mobile homes and the question of taxation should be further xeviewed.

(3) The Committee recommends that further investigation be carried out on specific
costs and siting with a view to developing a trailer park on & suitable sits
within the City.

2. Use of 33 Foot Lots - the Committee's investigation of the available City

owed 33 foot lots revealed that there are approximately 165-33 foot lots owned

by the City in random locations. Some of these may not be develepable due to
servicing problems, however, the majority of them could be serviced and offered for
sale. The Committee has investigated with building contractors the possibility of
arranging for construction of specific types of homes on these 33 foot lets in other -

.words, invite proposals from developers or contractors to construct a quantity of

homes on 33 foot lots perhaps consisting of three or four basic. designs as there are
considerable cost advantages in labour and sub trade efficiency. -

The Committee recommends that further investigation be done on the possibility of
servicing the 33 foot City owned lots and the possibility of calling for proposals

frow developers be further refined so that this course of action can be pursued.

3. Modular Homes - In conjunction with the use of 33 foot City owned lots the
alternative of constructing modular homes was investigated. It would appear that
there are cost advantages particularly if volume purchasing is possible. The

building contractors interviewed felt that they could compete with modular construc~
tion and if proposals are cal*. 4 there is a possibility that modular home manufacturers

‘may bid, The Committee was impressed with the quality of modular home construction

and attached to this report is a list provided by F.G. Fowler and Assoc. giving
locations of a number of modular homes placed throughout the Lower Mainland area.
Council may wish to view these units.

4, Other Aspects of Housing - It was mentioned previously that the Committee had

determined that subsidized housing is being taken care of. Senior citizens housing
appears to be taken care of by the Senior Citizens Housing Society. In addition,
the Canadian Legion is investigating a project involving senior citizens housing.

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