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Council directs staff to pursue zoning amendments restricting manufactured homes in some residential districts
Summary
Following a lengthy debate about housing choices and neighborhood character, Lockhart City Council voted 6‑1 to direct staff to initiate amendments to Chapter 64 of the zoning code to restrict manufactured housing in certain residential districts; staff and the city attorney flagged a new state law (SB785) that will affect ordinance drafting and a
Lockhart City Council voted 6‑1 on July 15 to direct staff to begin the process of amending Chapter 64 of the city zoning code to restrict manufactured housing in some residential districts.
Council member Castillo introduced the request, saying the city is seeing spotty approvals and denials for manufactured homes that create inconsistency across neighborhoods. “I feel like we need to… get some conformity for everybody to have the same opportunity in the city,” Castillo said, adding he envisions allowing manufactured housing in designated areas rather than across all residential neighborhoods.
A number of council members and residents offered competing views: some said community input and case‑by‑case approvals have been the practice and that manufactured homes can provide affordable housing opportunities for young families when land is already available; others said increased consistency would protect property investments in neighborhoods seeing rehabilitation and new construction.
Staff and legal counsel warned that recent state legislation will affect what the city can do. Planning staff explained that manufactured homes currently are allowed by specific use permit (SUP) in residential medium‑density (RMD) and residential high‑density (RHD) zones and that the MH (manufactured home) zoning district exists in a limited area. City staff referenced Senate Bill 785 from the recent legislative session and said ordinance language must be reviewed to ensure compliance; the city attorney’s office advised a legal analysis before any final ordinance drafting.
Council directed staff to prepare ordinance amendments and to coordinate with the Planning and Zoning Commission; several council members also requested a joint workshop with the commission before final action. The motion directing staff to initiate the zoning case passed with one dissent.
