The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 on a temporary emergency ordinance that puts a moratorium on senior mobile home parks, effectively preventing the conversion of senior homes to all-age homes.

A month ago, the board directed staff to come up with a temporary ordinance to protect nursing homes in the county, prompted in part by the recent purchase of Del Cielo Mobile Estates in Orcutt by Harmony Communities — a company with a history of buying. and transforming mobile homes for seniors for all ages.

Mobile homes are one of the few remaining unsubsidized affordable housing options for over 55s. The emergency ordinance would give county staff time to determine more permanent measures.

One of Del Cielo’s owners, and Paul Beard, an attorney representing the new property, argued that the all-ages housing ban is not inclusive and would have no choice but to sue if it were to pass.

Supervisor Bob Nelson said the new owner was well aware that the conversion was impossible. “He bought a property with the understanding that it couldn’t be converted, but now he’s trying to find a legal way to do that — he admitted that to me in an email,” Nelson said.

Supervisor Steve Lavagnino said the comments were an “eye-opening” insight into the new owner’s point of view.

“If you’re going to come to the Board of Supervisors and basically threaten us and call us racist,” Lavagnino said, “I can only imagine what you’re going to do when you’re dealing with … people who are on fixed incomes or older people who may not have all the resources that we have.”

The council is scheduled to return on December 10 to approve an extension to continue the moratorium until October 25, 2025.