Lee County Residents Voice Concerns Over Updated Manufactured Housing Codes

Photo byDaily Journal

Tensions ran high during a recent Lee County board meeting as residents expressed frustration over newly updated manufactured housing regulations. The meeting, which saw a packed boardroom, ended with little resolution, though Board President and District 3 Supervisor Wesley Webb announced that the updated regulations had been paused for revision.

The updates to the housing codes, which had not been revised since 1994, introduced several new requirements. These include a two-acre minimum lot size, setbacks of 60 feet from roads, and mandates for brick, stucco, or veneer skirts around homes. Other updates require a covered front porch with guard rails and a pitched roof, among other structural requirements. Notably, the new code requires properties to have proper sewage and wastewater systems and allows for a variance down to 1 acre in specific cases.

Resident's Concerns

Many residents, including Ashely Morris of Mooreville, expressed disappointment over the lack of communication about the code updates. Morris criticized the board for not including her in the meeting agenda and raised concerns over Webb's profession as a realtor, accusing him of having a conflict of interest.

“He only dictated this meeting so it could be in his favor,” she said, accusing the board of not being transparent.

Other residents, such as Brad Williams of Nettleton, argued that the regulations were not about health and safety but rather an overreach by local government. Williams, a mobile home resident, asked for public meetings to be scheduled after working hours to allow more people to attend.

James Vandevander, another concerned resident, shared how the new regulations would prevent him from subdividing his 4-acre property for his children’s mobile homes. He lamented the lack of discussion from the board during the meeting.

Next Steps

Supervisor Webb assured the public that the board was working toward a compromise, with the goal of updating the housing codes fairly. A public discussion on the matter will be scheduled soon, and the county plans to gather more input from manufactured housing sellers before finalizing the regulations.

“We’re not trying to push mobile homes out of the county,” Webb said, stressing the importance of having appropriate rules in place for health and safety reasons.

As the debate over the new codes continues, the upcoming public forum will offer another opportunity for residents to voice their concerns and seek solutions that balance regulatory oversight with affordable housing needs.