Finally, things are looking up for the manufactured housing industry in a small town in Nebraska. The Scotts Bluff County Commissioners have lifted a 20-year restriction banning single section manufactured homes within the county.
The Scottsbluff Star Herald tells MHProNews that Scottsbluff has a population of approximately 15,000 and is the largest city in the Nebraska Panhandle, which is the location of many ranches.
“We had a constituent saying he had a single section ‘trailer’ and he wanted to replace it,” said County Commissioner Mark Masterton. The commissioners granted the request, making it easier for other residents of Scotts Bluff County to replace their manufactured homes.
“The intent 20 years ago was to eliminate older and broken down ‘trailers,’ ” Masterton said. “We had previously denied access in Scotts Bluff County.”
The removal of the ban will benefit Hinn’s Homes, a manufactured home dealer in the area, but Hinn’s Assistant Manager Don Martin said it will also help several groups of people in the county. “We’ll be able to tell young and retiring people we have homes,” he explained.
In addition, ranchers trying to attract employees can also take advantage of the lifting of the ban. “A single section home will make it possible for ranchers to hire more help,” Martin added.
With the lifting of the ban, residents in the Panhandle will have more affordable options when purchasing a home. “Young couples will be able to put their home on their parent’s property,” Martin said. “Senior citizens can place a home on their children’s property so they can stay closer to family. It makes it easier for people to live. With taxes so high, it really helps with wanting to have your own home.”
Bill Mabin, zoning director with Scotts Bluff County Building and Zoning, said the cost difference between a single section home and a double section home had increased to such a substantial amount in recent years, that a manufactured home was not an affordable option for many families.
Commissioner Masterton said he didn’t expect there would be a huge impact on the community and that, for a while, double section manufactured homes and larger homes were what people had been seeking. “People like to live in manufactured homes,” he said. “However, the home trend now is living small, so it makes sense.”
These types of homes are regulated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) through the Federal National Manufactured Housing Construction and Safety Standards Act of 1976.
“The prior regulation only allowed homes 18 feet or wider, which meant they had to be a double section unit. The amended regulation uses a square foot minimum of 800 square feet and does not have a clear width requirement,” Mabin said. “Any manufactured home over 800 square feet and meeting the standards of HUD, is in compliance with Scotts Bluff County requirements.”
Justin Burgess of Hinn’s Homes, and Henry Stahla of Stahla Homes, have both stated that the 800 square feet minimum would be available in their factory lines, Mabin said. ##
(Photo Credit: Magnolia Homes / Stahla Homes)
