By JIM GENARO

Residents of Buncombe County will now be allowed to erect mobile homes in much more of the county, as the Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 on Oct. 16 to allow manufactured homes in the R-1 and R-2 zoning districts.
The board had prohibited mobile homes in those areas when it passed the countyís first zoning ordinance last April.

However, advocates of the latest move argued that the restrictions hampered efforts to create affordable housing in the region.

The amendment to the zoning ordinance carried a number of restrictions intended to ensure the homes are safe and more attractive, Zoning Administrator Jim Coman said.

These include requirements that manufactured homes meet all federal housing standards; that the wheels, tongue, and all other equipment involved in transporting them be removed prior to occupancy; and that they be no more than four times as long as they are wide.

Furthermore, the homes must be at least 20 feet wide, ensuring that single-wide trailers would not be allowed.
The amendment did not apply to zoning in the Beaverdam and Limestone districts, which have had land-use restrictions in place for more than 20 years.

Commissioner David Young noted mobile homes that meet these criteria are ìto the eye, a stick-built home or a modular home.î

During public comments about the amendment, resident Alan Ditmore argued that manufactured homes are ìabsolutely critical to affordable housing.î

Ditmore added that objections to the homes were rooted in classism, ìas evidenced by the vociferous denunciations by elitist, homeowning speculators.î

His comments were echoed by a woman who said, ìI donít think thereís anything more ugly than a McMansion on a steep slope on the side of a mountain.î

She said that while some residents worry that mobile homes will decrease property values, for many poor farmers, the increased tax valuations that result from wealthy newcomers threatens their ability to keep their homes.

ìWe need protection to keep our property value from going up,î she said.

Meanwhile, resident Jerry Rice argued that the ordinance ought to allow single-wide trailers as well. ìAffordable housing ainít a double-wide,î Rice told the commissioners.

However, Board Vice Chair Carol Peterson, who cast the sole vote against the change, argued that the amendment was ìnot consistent with the land-use planî and that the change came too soon after the approval of zoning.

Furthermore, she said, those who have bought homes in R1 and R2 zones have an expectation that mobile homes will be kept out. This amounts to ìprotection for their investments,î she said.

But Commissioner David Gantt disagreed, saying, ìHousing that working people can afford is one of the most important isseus facing this county.î

Gantt said that he has lived in manufactured homes and even ìin crummy trailers.î

Providing such affordable options is a way to combat gentrification, he said.

ìFolks, weíre gonna become ëLand of the Rich,í not ëLand of the Skyí the way things are going,î Gantt said. ìWe have a moral obligation to people here ó if they work here and if they have a job here, they ought to be able to afford a home."