County Backs Plan to Allow Housing of Workers on Construction Sites

County supervisors Wednesday unanimously endorsed a proposal aimed at providing low-cost housing for construction workers by allowing living quarters on job sites.

The proposed ordinance, which would apply only in the unincorporated parts of the county, would allow builders to provide trailers or other types of on-site housing for the workers in the same fashion that agricultural workers are beginning to be housed by their employers.

Supervisor George Bailey, who sponsored the laborer housing proposal, pointed out that many of the people employed on construction sites earn too little to afford regular housing. Bailey proposed offering incentives to non-agricultural employers to provide temporary housing for their workers, many of whom are migrants from Mexico and from other parts of the United States.

Lari Sheehan, deputy chief county administrative officer, recommended that the county amend its zoning ordinance to allow trailers at construction sites as temporary housing units and consider waiving fees. County fees for siting a trailer and hooking up the septic tank now total more than $1,000.

Sheehan said a procedure could be developed to inspect and regulate the worker housing to prevent negative effects on neighboring property owners and to ensure safe, affordable quarters for the construction workers and their families.

She warned, however, that further research will have to be conducted to determine if the program conflicts with state laws.

The proposal will be sent to planning groups in all the unincorporated communities for their review and response before being considered for final action by the supervisors in 60 days.