A public hearing at the Lorain City Council addressed a proposed amendment to the city zoning code to allow permanently sited manufactured homes in residential districts that permit single‑family dwellings and to add minimum design and foundation standards.

The Planning Commission, which met on June 4, 2025, recommended approval of the zoning code amendments to the Lorain City Council, and city staff said notice of the hearing was published as required by state statutes. Matt Krusner, Building, Housing and Planning director, said the change responds to multiple requests, including from Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cleveland, to expand housing options.

"We have, we've had many requests, but particularly a request from Habitat for Humanity of Greater Cleveland to make this zoning change," Krusner said. He told council the change would allow construction of manufactured homes outside manufactured home park districts to increase availability of affordable and market‑rate housing.

Emily Sackinson, Planning and Zoning Administrator, explained the specific code changes the administration proposed and said the city must align the local code with state law. "The state of Ohio requires the state of Ohio requires that municipalities allow for permanently sited manufactured homes and states that we cannot prohibit or restrict them outside of our residential districts that allow for single family dwellings," Sackinson said.

Sackinson summarized the planned amendments: add "permanently sited manufactured homes" to the schedule of allowed uses for single‑family districts only; require manufactured homes to be on permanent foundations and meet the same minimum standards as single‑family dwellings (including pitched roofs and two points of access/egress); revise dimensional minimums (for example, reducing a prior width standard from 24 feet to 22 feet) and add a 900‑square‑foot minimum; and adopt a definition for permanently sited manufactured homes drawn from the Ohio Revised Code.

Council members and members of the public pressed for clarifications about construction quality, whether double‑wide units would qualify, whether basements might be included, how the new standards would differ from mobile homes on wheels, and how this would affect small vacant city lots. Sackinson and Krusner said the ordinance would require units to be installed on permanent foundations, meet building and HUD/state code requirements, and comply with setbacks and other local standards. Krusner noted Habitat’s planned builds and mentioned two sites under consideration in South Lorain but said he was not certain of street names and asked not to be quoted on that detail.

After discussion, Councilmember Nutt moved and Councilmember Sandler seconded a motion to refer the ordinance to subcommittee for additional review and possible site visits; the motion carried unanimously. No zoning amendment was adopted at the meeting.

The referral means council will take additional time to review technical standards and neighborhood compatibility before any final vote. Staff said additional code revisions aimed at supporting in‑fill housing are under consideration.