Rankin County supervisors rescind April zoning changes after hours of public comment

The Rankin County Board of Supervisors voted on May 5 to rescind zoning amendments the board adopted on April 7 and to reinstate the county zoning ordinance as it existed on April 6, officials said during the meeting.

The action came after more than 90 minutes of public comment from scores of residents who said the amendments would limit where manufactured and modular homes can be placed, could landlock small family parcels and were not adequately publicized. The board adopted a motion to put a rescission item on the agenda, then voted to adopt a board order reversing the April 7 changes and restoring the April 6 ordinance.

Residents said the changes would have had immediate financial and practical consequences for longtime landowners and people living in manufactured or older mobile homes. Jennifer Hall, executive director of the Mississippi Manufactured Housing Association, told supervisors she and others were grateful the board rescinded the ordinance but urged the county to adopt broader public-notice practices in the future.

"I would like to thank you for taking this vote to rescind," Hall said. "I hope next time that when y'all do any kind of land use that you will consider putting it on social media. I know the law may require just 2 times in the paper, but people need to know what's going on with their land."

Other speakers said the amendments — documented in a lengthy packet referenced by residents as running many pages — would have reduced the value of family parcels and made it harder for heirs to keep property in rural areas. Laura Faulkner, a Rankin County resident, asked why more attention had not gone into vetting changes that affect elderly residents and future generations.

"So why was there not more attention put on something that would affect not only the elderly and the current people of our community, but future generations?" Faulkner asked.

Several speakers described fear and confusion after the April action, including homeowners who said they believed a later interpretation would force them to remove or replace older homes. Holly May said the episode left her fearing she might lose a home she has lived in for years.

"This has been the hardest 2 weeks of my entire life knowing not knowing if I'm gonna have a home when I wake up or if I'm gonna be homeless," May said.

Speakers urged clearer, broader notice for land-use changes. Multiple residents cited social media posts and packed community gatherings as the channels that raised public alarms; one speaker said a county meeting organized by opponents drew more than 400 people.

Board members responded by saying the ordinance change would be reversed to the earlier version to avoid immediate disruption while the county considers clearer outreach and possible revisions. The board also said staff would develop a county webpage and other ways to publicize land-use proposals beyond the legal minimum of newspaper notices.

The rescission was the most prominent action in a meeting that also included routine business — approvals of bids and contracts, road permits, and memoranda of understanding with the City of Flowood — and a set of scheduled hearings and administrative items. Several supervisors apologized in the meeting for any confusion the April action caused.

Quotes and public remarks were made during the meeting's public-comment period; board leadership said the change restores the prior ordinance without immediate further alteration.

The board did not announce a new timetable for revising the ordinance; supervisors said they plan to consider additional outreach steps and to review land-use language in future meetings.

Votes at a glance: the board approved a motion to rescind the zoning amendments adopted 04/07/2025 and to reinstate the zoning ordinance as it existed 04/06/2025 (motion moved and seconded on the record; outcome: approved). The meeting's consent and routine items — including approval of road bids (asphalt and clay gravel), authorization to advertise for asphalt bids, several construction and utility permits, acceptance of completed bridge projects, and memoranda of understanding with the City of Flowood concerning stormwater study and road segments — were approved by voice votes during the same meeting. No numeric roll-call tallies were recorded on the transcript for these routine motions.

The board repeatedly emphasized that the rescission restores the county to the prior zoning language "with no changes" while staff and supervisors consider how to improve notice and public engagement on zoning and land-use issues.

Ending: Supervisors said staff will work on a county web page and other outreach tools so residents can see proposed changes, and they urged citizens to continue participating in the public-comment process at upcoming hearings. The board scheduled further business for its May 15 meeting, when it will consider additional land-use items and any follow-up on the ordinance.