Mobile-home owners in Santa Barbara County are on edge as new rules are being proposed to protect them in the event that their landlords decide to sell the land beneath them. At a Tuesday night meeting to take public comment — which attracted a few dozen folks in both Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, most of whom lived in the 20 trailer parks that would be affected by the rules — Long Range Planning Director Jeff Hunt assured that no properties were for sale, explaining, “This is an ordinance for protection in the future.” Despite proposed payment of relocation expenses and buyout plans, many complained about the compensation package not being equitable and that the relocation range of 80 miles was “staggering.” But, representing one mobile-home park owner, attorney Derek Westen said that 32 years of rent control on top of the suggested payouts “may exceed what is reasonable.”

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