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Commission asks staff to study manufactured‑home sales use outside Rural Preservation with acreage limits
Summary
The commission voted March 26, 2026 to direct staff to explore adding a use allowing display and retail sales of new manufactured and modular homes to the zoning ordinance (excluding RP) with development standards and acreage limits to govern lot layout and service activities.
The Caroline County Planning Commission on March 26 directed staff to explore adding a use to the county ordinance to permit display and retail sales of new manufactured and modular homes outside the Rural Preservation district, with recommended limits on acreage and development standards.
Brad Robinson, Zoning Administrator, said the petition from Patriot Homes requests enumeration of “New Manufactured and Modular Homes Display, Sales and Service (with small parts storage under roof)” in Article IX (Business District) as a by‑right use, provided the county adopts development standards addressing display layout and pedestrian accommodations. Robinson showed examples from surrounding localities and noted staff would be uncomfortable listing a by‑right use without standards.
Commissioners raised concerns about site size and service uses. Robinson said the site under consideration in the county is roughly 3–4 acres, which would limit the number of display units. Mr. Rollins said residents currently must go outside the county to view manufactured homes and supported an in‑county option: “Residents have to go outside the County to look at these types of homes and they don’t have an option in the County to purchase from a vendor or company inside the County.”
Commissioners suggested the ordinance could allow sales in Business (B‑1) and potentially M‑1 with minimum acreage and restrictions on service activities (for example, to avoid heavy vehicle repair). After discussion Mr. Tingler moved and Dr. Horton seconded that staff proceed to explore adding manufactured‑home sales as a retail use to the ordinance, excluding the RP district and including limitations associated with acreage for display. The motion carried unanimously (Horton, Rollins, Tingler, Williams, Young).
Staff will draft possible definitions and development standards and return to the Commission for review; if the Board of Supervisors authorizes a formal text amendment, the proposed use and standards would be reviewed in public hearings.
