The Bryan city council voted 5-2 Tuesday night to eliminate future manufactured home placement on individual lots.
Joining Greg Owens, who made the motion, and Buppy Simank, who seconded the motion, were Reuben Marin, Brent Hairston, and Andrew Nelson.
Voting no were Prentiss Madison and Mike Southerland.
Opponents announced they have over 570 signatures from affected property owners. If the city certifies that’s enough to force a second vote, then the council would have to reach a supermajority…or three-fourths approval…for the zoning change to take effect.
Preceding the vote was a one hour public hearing, where 25 of 30 speakers opposed the unanimous Planning and Zoning Commission recommendation.
That was followed by 30 minutes of comments from two of the three P&Z members appointed to a subcommittee.
Then council members made 30 minutes of comments before taking the vote.
Original story:Tuesday night’s Bryan city council meeting includes consideration of finalizing a zoning change that would eliminate additional manufactured homes on individual lots.
Before a council vote, they could be presented a protest petition calling for approval by a three-fourths margin instead of a simple majority.
If the council decides to take a vote and if the margin is not a supermajority, then city staff will screen the petitions.
According to city secretary Mary Lynne Stratta, qualifying signatures are property owners affected by the zoning change and properties within 200 feet of the affected property. If there are petition signatures covering at least 20 percent of the affected land and Tuesday’s council vote was less than a supermajority, then the council will hold another vote.
Organizers of the petition drive say the zoning change displaces poor people by taking away their right to live in manufactured housing.
The chairman of the planning and zoning commission’s subcommittee on the zoning change, Jody Rodriguez, says this is a zoning change based on the comprehensive plan the city passed three years ago, and not a commentary on manufactured housing.
Rodriguez says the proposal allows owners of around 300 vacant lots to place and occupy manufactured homes within one year after getting city approval.
Click HERE to read and download the proposed ordinance.
Click HERE to read and download background information.
Click below for comments from Jody Rodriguez, visiting with WTAW’s Bill Oliver.