Green Living Homes modular builder, Frank Dertzbaugh, brought his concerns about a modular home placement problem to the attention of the Modular Building Institute’s (MBI) Tom Hardiman.
Dertzbaugh, a Daily Business News on MHProNews reader, cited the article linked below, as he explained to Hardiman – the executive director of MBI – about how the purchasers’ of a modular home was meeting local zoning resistance.
“Frederick County, Maryland Career and Technology Center built this two-section modular last winter in their shop and displayed it at the annual Frederick County Building Industry Association Home Show in March,” said Dertzbaugh.
Dertzbaugh stated that the home buyers. “are having some Zoning issues with County Officials.”
In response to follow up questions from MHProNews, the MBI executive explained that he hears a few times a year about a modular home placement issue.
In an on-the-record exchange, Hardiman stated, “Tony, I’m not sure how often it happens, but it [local placement] gets brought to our attention probably 3-4 times a year for zoning related issues.”
MBI’s Hardiman said it was, “Mostly due to poorly written local ordinances that date back decades and put limitations on “manufactured and modular homes” or put size and aesthetic requirements just on a modular home, leaving the door wide open for someone to build a hideous looking site built home.”
“We also deal with some local officials not wanting to accept a modular unit that has already been inspected and bears a state insignia probably 2-3 times a year as well,” Hardiman said. “In those cases, we usually get the state modular administrator to reach out to the local code official and explain the program.”
As to what MBI’s position on such issues, he said, “From the association standpoint if a “discriminatory” process happens at the state level, we want to be involved in resolving it. We can’t always address every local issue, but certainly will try.” ## (News.)
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