Members of the Winona Board of Aldermen discussed modifying the mobile home ordinance during a March 4 special called meeting.
In recent weeks, several residents have gone before the board to request permission to install mobile homes in places across the city.
However, some residents, including Carl Smith, have spoken out against an area in Ward Three being zoned for mobile homes about seven years ago, about seven years after he had his house built on his land.
His complaint has been that mobile homes in his area would drive down the value of his property.
During Friday’s meeting, Mayor Aaron Dees and board members discussed making changes to areas zoned for mobile homes and those that are not zoned for mobile homes.
Currently, three areas in the city are zoned for mobile homes, and if someone wants to install a mobile home in those areas, they would have to come before the board, according to Dees.
“In my opinion, if you’re in a zoned area, those people ought to be allowed to put a mobile home there if they owned land there,” said Dees. “It’s zoned for that reason.”
Board Attorney Adam Kirk encouraged board members to review the city’s zoning map to determine any changes they would like to make in the future.
“You could look into rezoning different areas to put mobile homes and still have a black and white rule where you have zoned areas,” Kirk said. “You need to have an outlined rule; either it is or it isn’t.”
Alderman Charles Harris inquired about zoning in the vast agricultural areas of Winona, which board members agreed would be difficult.
“It’s a little bit different than residential areas – per acreage of land, which is a lot in my ward,” said Harris.
Alderwoman Sylvia Clark spoke on behalf of Smith, who lives in her ward, addressing the likelihood that the zoning in 2007 might have negatively affected the value of his home.
“In the area where the young man was talking about, his land is not out in the country. It’s in the city. It depreciates housing value when you have an expensive home. It’s not in the country, it’s right there in town,” said Clark.
She reminded the board that when Smith built his house, the area was not zoned for mobile homes.
“When he bought his home, no other trailers could come to that area,” Clark said. “When you spend a lot of money, you don’t want to depreciate the value of your home.”
Smith wanted the zoning for mobile homes to be removed from the area, according to Clark.
She moved to begin the process in Ward Three, allow the installation of a mobile home that is currently in process and then remove the zone.
Alderman Mickey Austin seconded, and the board voted 3-2 with Harris and Alderwoman Linda Purnell voting “no.”
Purnell and Harris did not agree with the idea of changing a zone because one or two people in a ward wanted the change.
The board also agreed, that going forward, if residents wanted to put mobile homes in zoned areas, they could obtain a permit without having to go before the board.
However, if they wanted to put a mobile home in an area that is not zoned for mobile homes, they could not.
Board members then agreed to study the zoning map and decide if they should add zones in their wards.
Austin made the motion to add zones to what already exists, and Clark seconded followed by a vote of all in favor.
However, board members would have to follow proper procedures before making zoning changes, Kirk said.
