LEWES, Del. - The City of Lewes continues to discuss changes to its manufactured home ordinance. With past recommendations, many people who live in the Donovan Smith Manufactured Home Community were worried that the city's idea of improvements would actually make things more dangerous. Proposed changes that will be further considered at the city's workshop on Nov. 30, at 10 a.m. at City Hall.
However, the latest changes proposed for the ordinance include increasing the distance between buildings to 20-feet instead of 16-feet.
"The more the better... As everyone knows it's a hazardous thing when fires happen and if they look a few weeks ago up at McNicol's Place, you'll see exactly what I mean." said James McCarty who has lived in Donovan Smith for eight years.
Proposed changes also included increasing the open space minimum for the park to 1.5 acres. An area in Donovan Smith that remains partially blocked off from a prior sewage problem.
"My mother was talking to me about this the other day but we'd prefer having more space for over here for kids for like some sort of park." said Jorge Gonzalez who also lives in Donovan Smith.
This amendment would lessen the amount of new homes that can be added to the park in the future, even as the city aims to add more units that qualify as affordable housing.
To read more about the other proposed changes by council for this ordinance, click here.