Shevonda Randall’s trailer home burned on Dec. 7, 2024 and Tim Daughtrey, owner of 3D’s Construction in Saluda stepped up and gifted her family with a large Dutch Park Home (camp trailer) for her home at 229 Remlik Drive near Kilmer’s Point.
Randall reached out to the Sentinel to thank Daughtrey for the gift, but to also let the community know that zoning codes have resulted in her being unable to move into the home or leave as is.
Zoning restraints
Middlesex County Planning Director David Kretz answered an email from the Sentinel concerning the matter. “Ms. Randall’s situation is unfortunate, especially given the circumstances surrounding her animals and the loss of her home,” he said.
“It is customary to remove electric meters during or after a fire event and Dominion Energy requires an electrical inspection for meter hook ups. In order for the building official to perform a meter inspection, an electrical permit must first be applied for and issued prior to the inspection.
“Ms. Randall was told that a permit could not be issued in association with a non-permitted use. Ms. Randall was gifted a park model, which is defined as a camping unit in the Middlesex County Zoning Ordinance and is not recognized by the residential building code. The Zoning Ordinance prohibits habitation of camping units outside of campgrounds.
“If replacement of the original structure, which was a manufactured home, is the desired result, then the replacement structure will have to be HUD certified, constructed after 1976 and be structurally sound as determined by the Building Official,” said Kretz.
Shevonda Randall
“I can not thank Tim (Daughtrey) enough for his kind and unbelievable gift to my family,” said Randall. “When we got the trailer on the property we thought of it as a gift from heaven. The new trailer is better than what we had before. Is there no common sense here! We need to go home and we have a trailer that is better than what we had before and the county won’t let us come home.”
Since the fire, Randall and family have been living in the Best Western hotel in Kilmarnock. The funding for that will run out this week. “We can’t thank the community, the firemen and everyone who has tried to help us enough,” she said.
“I hope there is some way to get around this so we can come home!” she said. “We lost everything we had. My son lost all of his childhood treasures and memories, all of our furniture. It has been a devastating experience for us!”
Mrs. Randall reached out to the Sentinel in hopes that the community can find a way to help her. If anyone can suggest a solution, call Mrs. Randall at 804-313-7492.
