The Stayton City Council has approved an amendment to its development codes allowing more options to build and site manufactured homes. The council voted unanimously to approve Ordinance 1060, which brought the city into compliance with new state regulations.
As of last year, Oregon cities can no longer prohibit or otherwise limit the siting of manufactured homes on land zoned for single-family dwellings. Manufactured homes must still comply with zoning and development rules that apply to single-family, detached structures.
Legislators said the new regulations would expand housing options amid a dire statewide housing crisis.
Stayton’s ordinance removed most of the rules specific to manufactured homes from city code including regulations on siding, roofing and perimeter enclosures. Remaining regulations required a minimum width of 24 feet, which does not allow for single-wide homes, and that wheels, trailer hitches and other transport mechanisms be removed. Ordinance 1060 kept these requirements by applying them to site-built homes as well.
The new state regulations also prohibited cities from setting minimum lot sizes larger than one acre for mobile home parks. Stayton’s code set a minimum of five acres. It was reduced to comply with state law.
Councilor Jordan Ohrt asked why there were rules specific to manufactured homes. The city planning director explained 60 years ago they did not match the aesthetics of site-built homes. Residents were concerned about their impact on property values. Today’s manufactured homes, he said, blend in with more traditional homes and it no longer makes sense to differentiate.
Councilor David Patty said the proposal was straightforward and he saw no problem adopting the changes. Councilor Ben McDonald said he was in favor of removing regulations to building and development and saw no reason to continue having different rules for manufactured homes.
