Coalition opposes housing measure

The Southern Nevada Regional Planning Coalition renewed its opposition Thursday to legislation which would broaden where manufactured homes can be located.

"I don't like this bill because I believe it is an issue better addressed by local governments -- not the state legislature," said Clark County Commission Chairman Bruce Woodbury, who is a member of the coalition.

Under Senate Bill 323, manufactured homes could crop up in neighborhoods throughout the Las Vegas Valley. The bill, which unanimously passed the Senate, is expected to be voted on by the Assembly before the end of the month.

"It looks like this bill will end up in the governor's lap," Woodbury said.

Because they are built in sections in factories and trucked to the home site, manufactured homes can be more affordable than conventional homes, although some models exceed $150,000.

Over the years, a certain stigma has attached itself to manufactured homes, that mass production in a distant factory means they are cheaper and less sightly than "normal" homes built on site.

"These homes could reduce the values of homes surrounding them -- but some of the homes are very nice," Woodbury said.

Zoning ordinances now restrict where manufactured housing can be placed.

The bill establishes design standards that manufactured homes must meet when placed in a traditional single-family neighborhood.

They are:

-- Homes must have been made in 1996 or after and be at least 960 square feet.

-- The structure must be at least 24 feet wide.

-- The building's foundation must be built at grade, where the home will stand.

-- The house must blend in with neighboring structures by having an exterior consistent with the character of the neighborhood.

Las Vegas City Councilman Larry Brown, who is also a member of the coalition, said he has concerns about these provisions.

"By dictating that manufactured homes must have an appearance consistent with the other homes in the neighborhood, they may be forcing the development of appearance standards for on-manufactured homes in the neighborhood. I don't think that is the intent of the legislation. But it could have that affect."

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