Rosebud Mobile Home Park rezoning advances amid tenant complaints

The Board of City Commissioners of Ashland, Kentucky, approved first reading on April 9 of an ordinance to reclassify the Rosebud Mobile Home Park at 2401 Beach Street from R6 single-family medium-density to a planned unit development. The measure was introduced as Item A and carried after planning staff and the planning commission recommended approval.

“When he said he would work with his tenants, he is not working with his tenants to try to help them buy a new location,” resident Melissa Preston told the commission during public comment, saying the owner had not notified many tenants and was “refusing to help anybody.” Preston said two tenants faced relocation within a week and alleged the owner refused to remove a tree and had capped water service for her daughter’s unit.

Donald Yates, who identified himself in the hearing record in connection with the application, told the commission the staff and planning commission had recommended approval and that he did not recall detractors at the planning commission hearing. The commission proceeded with the ordinance’s first reading after the public comment period.

The first-reading action does not itself rezone property permanently; it advances the ordinance through the process. Commissioners emphasized that contractual landlord–tenant disputes are civil matters and advised residents to seek legal counsel about lease claims. The commission noted that additional public process and any required notifications would take place as the ordinance proceeds through subsequent readings and administrative steps.

Next steps: the ordinance has been approved on first reading and will return for later readings and final action per the city’s zoning ordinance procedures.