Public Hearing to be Held on Inclusion of Manufactured Homes

By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

A public hearing will be held later this month for the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors to consider allowing manufactured homes in most residential areas and any type of home on commercial zones.

On Monday, Building Officials Joel Hollowell told the Board of Supervisors that during the zoning process last year, manufactured homes were only allowed to be placed in the Residential Estate zoning classification; however, they are only allowed to be for temporary use.

Commercially-zoned areas currently have no options for residential structures of any kind.

That has caused some “unintended consequences” for some Lafayette County residents, according to Hollowell.

Those already living in a home in the areas zoned commercial last year are grandfathered in; however, no new houses could be built on the property.

“Even though it’s zoned commercial, some may have no intention of selling and plan to live there the rest of their lives and maybe have their children come to live there,” Hollowell said Monday.

At 8 a.m. on April 18, the public hearing will address the proposed changes to Lafayette County’s Zoning Ordinance to allow for conditional use for manufactured homes in the R1, R2, R3, C1, C2 and C3 zoning districts.

The public will be allowed to ask questions and make comments. The supervisors will consider the proposed ordinance change and possibly make changes to the proposed language for the amendment.

If eventually passed by the Supervisors and made as a conditional use, those requesting to place or build a manufactured home would have to meet several requirements and be approved by the Board of Supervisors before being granted a permit to build the home.