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Washington County Planning Commission forwards two rezoning requests to Board of Supervisors to allow manufactured homes
Summary
The Washington County Planning Commission recommended two rezoning requests to the Board of Supervisors: one to rezone roughly 17 acres near Laurelwood Lane and another to rezone about 2.025 acres on Lee Highway to A2 Agricultural zoning, enabling placement of manufactured homes; the commission also heard resident objections about neighborhood character and road impacts.
The Washington County Planning Commission on its November agenda recommended that the Board of Supervisors consider two rezoning requests that would allow manufactured homes on properties near Laurelwood Lane and on Lee Highway.
At the meeting the commission heard staff analysis, applicant testimony and neighborhood comment before voting to forward both applications. Planning staff described the larger Laurelwood Lane application as six parcels totaling about 17 acres and said rezoning to A2 would permit manufactured homes and other agricultural uses across the rezoned area. Applicant Heather Langston told commissioners, “We would love to put a mobile home on the property to accommodate my sister and her family,” and said the family intends to make the parcel a long-term home rather than subdivide it.
Commissioners asked questions about setbacks and utilities. Staff said public water is available on Larwood Lane but that sewer is not shown on county maps; septic may be required depending on site conditions. After applicant responses and discussion of surrounding land uses, a commissioner moved to forward the Langston application with a positive recommendation to the Board of Supervisors; staff indicated the item will be on the Board’s agenda in December for final action.
The commission then considered a separate application from Mickey Blankenship to rezone about 2.025 acres near 15215 Lee Highway. Planning staff said the Lee Highway parcel is mostly vacant wooded land; a hand-drawn site plan showed a single manufactured home and a proposed septic location that, in staff’s view, would occupy a substantial portion of the two-acre lot. Blankenship told the commission county sewer is expected to be available in January and that a water meter is already in place.
Several nearby residents spoke in opposition to the Blankenship request. Ed Moorefield said the neighborhood “did not need any more mobile homes in that area” and urged permanent foundation housing. Dina Blevins, who lives behind the parcel, cited concern that delivery of a large mobile home could damage a newly constructed county road she depends on and said additional trailers could depress surrounding property values. Jack Owen said the narrow, one-lane road and neighborhood condition made him prefer traditional housing types.
After discussing whether either application constituted spot zoning and weighing consistency with existing nearby uses, the commission voted to forward the Blankenship rezoning to the Board of Supervisors; the commission recorded a 4–1 vote in favor. Applicants were told to appear before the Board on the scheduled date for final consideration.
Votes at a glance: - Langston/Woodson rezoning (parcels near 23476 Laurelwood Lane): commission recommended forwarding to the Board of Supervisors for final action (positive recommendation recorded during meeting). - Blankenship rezoning (approx. 2.025 acres near 15215 Lee Highway): commission forwarded to the Board of Supervisors (vote recorded 4–1 in favor).
The applicants must present before the Board of Supervisors for final decisions; the planning commission’s action is a recommendation.
