Atlas Twp.’The Michigan Manufactured Housing Association responded last week to new House bills that would change rules governing manufactured homes.
The two bills, spearheaded by several lawmakers including State Representative David Robertson (R-Grand Blanc) provide township boards and city councils the authority to govern codes, licenses, repair and installation of manufactured homes parks. The second bill would require a permit from the local government before construction can begin on any manufactured home. Currently the Manufacturing Housing Commission is the governing agency.
‘I hope at the end of the day, these lawmakers will respect the needs of all the people,? said David Waymire, Michigan Manufactured Housing Association spokesman who responded to the proposed legislation.
The Michigan Manufactured Housing Association was created by the Mobile Home Commission Act in 1977 to respond to consumer demand for orderly growth of manufactured homes in Michigan. The purpose is to eliminate restrictive or discriminatory practices; and to build consumer confidence.
Waymire blasted the new legislation saying it’s ‘intended to allow the local government to discriminate.?
‘You just can’t find homes for less than $150,000 in many communities’young teachers and retirees will just not find homes.?
‘There are no modest priced homes in townships,? said Waymire, adding that mobile homes cost far less than stick-built homes.
Local government now has complete control over where they go, added Waymire, ‘local communities put everything in five acre lots and that’s not the answer and if they choose to not zone, they have violated state zoning laws.?
‘They don’t want to have homes for small families in their communities.?
Robertson, on July 29 held a public meeting at Goodrich High School to discuss the new legislation and a proposed 1,000 site mobile home community on 173 acres in Atlas Township at Hegel and Coolidge roads. The debate has fueled the controversy between the Atlas Land Company, Atlas Township planners, Goodrich Village Council and several hundred residents.
‘My interests include treating manufactured homes like any other form of housing and giving the local communities an opportunity to deal with the impact from a mobile home development,? said Robertson, adding that both bills will provide local governments a better means to deal with fire protection or schools within the communities. Robertson, said many lawmakers in both the House and Senate are hearing clamoring from their people regarding the mobile home issues within communities statewide.
‘Mobile home communities have a very, very large impact on the community, for fire and police protection and school systems.?
Robertson, added that mobile home communities are often constructed in a short period of time and given the speed which they are built have a big, immediate impact on communities.
‘You’re asking communities to deal with a bigger demand on schools and laws that have not changed in years.?
Waymire denounced the ‘quick construction concept,? saying that ‘like any stick-built community, the mobile home communities will take several years to fillup. Not all the 1,000 lots are filled in one day,? said Waymire.
Robertson also denounced the affordable housing argument saying that lot rent and cost of the mobile homes is often as high as stick built homes.
‘We have an obligation to look at the interests of these communities.
Failure to act has to some extent created a market for these homes,? added Robertson.
The Michigan Manufactured Housing Commission has come under fire recently due to the makeup of the commissioners. The 11-member commission includes manufactured home residents, association members, and mobile home community operators, who says Robertson, are ‘tainted toward the industry and not impartial.?
The 11-member board is appointed by the governor and approved by the Senate.
In February, Atlas Township Supervisor Paul Amman called upon Governor Jennifer Granholm to abolish the commission as a means to, ‘return to local government the decision making process,? and to eliminate ‘the cost? to the state for the commission.
In June 2003, Granholm responded to Amman’s request, recognizing, ‘what you feel to be its (the commissions) negative impact on communities throughout the state.? Granholm added that to abolish the commission would require legislative action.
‘Who better knows the mobile home business than mobile home people,? argued Waymire.
‘Realtors are on realtors boards, doctors look after the doctors. It’s no different with mobile homes.?
Atlas Township would not be having problems if they had zoned right to begin with,? said Waymire. ‘They did not follow the law, now they are crying.?