Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Madison County board orders comprehensive review of zoning ordinance after modular‑home dispute
Summary
After public concern that the county ordinance lacks a definition for “site‑built residence,” the board directed staff and the county attorney to draft comprehensive ordinance revisions; the directive follows a contested modular‑home approval and is expected to take several months with CMPDD assistance.
Madison County supervisors voted May 4 to direct county staff and the attorney to undertake a comprehensive review of the county zoning ordinance to clarify definitions and other language after a dispute over whether a modular residence qualifies as "site‑built."
A letter submitted by Russell and Martha Ann Smith and public comment from Martha Ann Smith argued the county ordinance contains no definition of "site‑built residence," which the speakers said affected a hardship exception in a case involving a modular home on a property linked to Jennifer Sarton and Austin Blades. "The Madison County ordinance itself does not include a definition of site built," Smith said.
County attorney Clark acknowledged the ordinance lacks a clear definition and told the board that, absent revision, decisions may be made case‑by‑case. "It's not there ... If you guys would like to include a definition of a site built residence in the ordinance, we can do that," Clark said, adding that staff could prepare a revised version and other needed clarifications.
Following discussion, the board voted to authorize staff — including the zoning administrator and county attorney — to draft changes and to coordinate with CMPDD (the regional planning partner). County staff said the review will take several months and will be carried out alongside the comprehensive plan and zoning ordinance work.
The directive does not retroactively change prior board decisions; the county attorney said the decision made at the earlier meeting would stand while ordinance language is clarified. The board did not provide a firm completion date but indicated the work could take several months and that staff will report back to the board with proposed language.
