photo credit: GoogleMaps 11/2022
'For Senior Citizens' sign at entrance to Countryside 

Another conflict is brewing involving senior citizens, affordable housing, property values and mobile home parks, this time in Cotati.

With mobile home park owners determined to open up to tenants of all ages, Cotati's city council followed Petaluma earlier this week. Taking the somewhat extraordinary step of creating a new zoning district, a district wherein mobile home parks may ONLY rent to seniors.

Not too long after the vote, Nick Uboldi, representing one of the parks, addressed the council.

"After tonight's vote, we have decided to immediately begin the closure process for Countryside Mobile Home Park. Sadly, this is yet another example of government overreach, and you've left us with no choice but to seek legal recourse," Uboldi said.

Uboldi announced that the entity he represents will no longer negotiate with tenants, who have been attempting to purchase the park themselves.

"Tonight's vote was not a vote for an overlay, it was a vote for a lawsuit. Our legal challenge is prepared and ready to go," Uboldi said.

Cotati City Manager Damien O'Bid, however, countered in an interview with KRCB News that the city's move was entirely reasonable.

"Maintaining all types of housing that's affordable, including senior housing is an important policy goal of the city council," O'Bid said.

Speaking Tuesday, Uboldi drew a proverbial line in the sand

"We have zero interest in having our property held hostage, and will not do so. The property's land value far exceeds its current use. This is a private business, and we will no longer bear the burden of Cotati's affordable housing effort," Uboldi vowed.

O'Bid said the city has not yet seen a suit, and couldn't comment on its merits, but said he is confident the city will prevail.

"The city controls land use planning. This type of zoning overlay is a pretty common tool, we believe its a valid way to zone the property, to preserve the senior housing."

Ownership of the park, obscured by a series of limited liability corporations, appears to be run out of an address in Stockton affiliated with realtors, a trailer dealership and roughly 70 other mobile home parks.