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Residents urge Sonoma to update mobile‑home conversion and rent‑protection rules using AB 2782 powers
Summary
Members of a regional mobile‑home homeowners coalition asked the Sonoma Planning Commission to accelerate a local update to the city’s conversion/closure and rent stabilization rules, citing state law AB 2782 and recent park ownership trends.
Bonnie Joy Kaslan, president of the Moon Valley Community HOA, and Ann Kolachitis, president of the Sonoma Valley Golden State Manufactured Homeowners League, urged the Sonoma City Planning Commission during public comment to support updating the city’s mobile‑home conversion and closure ordinance and related tenant protections.
The speakers said the city’s current conversion and closure ordinance, last updated in 2004, no longer provides protections the groups consider necessary. They cited AB 2782, a 2020 state law the speakers said expands authority for local governments to adopt protections for manufactured‑housing homeowners. Kaslan and Kolachitis asked the commission to move quickly to bring Sonoma’s local code into alignment with what AB 2782 allows and to schedule staff meetings to discuss draft ordinance language prepared by counsel.
Kaslan described outreach and coordination the Tri Park Committee has undertaken with regional homeowners organizations and said the committee retained attorney Will Konstantin to draft proposed changes; the speakers said the draft was submitted to city staff (to “director Gates”) on 08/11/2025 for review. Kolachitis told commissioners that park ownership in Sonoma County has shifted from small “mom‑and‑pop” operators to larger investors and private‑equity owners, and she warned that park conversions and closure threats have caused steep rent increases, legal disputes and displacement in other local jurisdictions.
No formal zoning or code change was before the commission at the meeting; the remarks were made during the public‑comment period. During director comments later in the meeting, staff said the city manager and city attorney had discussed the subject and that a recommendation will go to the City Council for direction in November.
Supporters seeking an updated conversion and closure ordinance told commissioners they want local protections tailored to Sonoma, including stronger notice, relocation and compensation provisions for residents if a park seeks closure or conversion. They asked the city to use AB 2782’s authority to expand local options beyond the current rules.
Staff and commissioners did not take formal action on ordinance text at the meeting. Staff indicated the next formal step will be a Council briefing and direction to staff on how and when to process any code changes.
Commissioners acknowledged the public comments and that the item will be considered by City Council at a later date; staff said they would notify the speakers about the Council schedule.
