Paducah City introduces zoning changes to allow 'qualified manufactured homes' in residential zones

Paducah City — The Paducah City Board of Commissioners on June 23 introduced a package of zoning text amendments to comply with state law and permit "qualified manufactured homes" in residential zones where single-family homes are allowed.

Planning staff member Josh told the commission the changes respond to House Bill 160 and KRS 100.348. "The new law shall require that all qualified manufactured homes have to be allowed in every single residential zone," he said, and staff proposed performance and compatibility standards so such homes are not treated differently from stick-built houses.

Key standards described in staff comments include requiring new manufactured homes to be newly built (not older than five years at time of installation), orientation to face the same street direction as neighboring homes, permanent foundations with wheels and axles removed, hookups to utilities with appropriate skirting, and a minimum roof pitch in low-density zones. Josh summarized one performance requirement: "new homes shall not exceed a date five years prior when before they're installed, so they have to be a brand new home," and staff proposed a 5:12 minimum roof pitch for R1 and R2 single-story homes to maintain neighborhood character.

Staff also said the amendments exclude parcels inside pending or existing historic districts to protect identified historic fabric, particularly on portions of the Southside that are being inventoried for potential nomination to the National Register. On the scope of that survey, staff said inventories are under way and likely to return mid-fall, but that only "pockets" of the Southside are expected to qualify as historic districts once the inventory and provenance research are complete.

Commissioners asked detailed technical questions about how compatibility standards apply on nonconforming lots, and staff replied with examples (for instance, allowing a smaller qualified manufactured home on a nonconforming small lot where a 10% minimum lot coverage standard applies). The Planning Commission held a public hearing June 1 and forwarded a favorable recommendation before the board introduced the ordinances.

The commission introduced three ordinances tied to this work: (1) amending chapter 126-69 and 126-79 to replace "mobile home parks" with "land lease communities" and to revise qualified manufactured home regulations to comply with KRS 100.348; (2) amending R1 low-density residential zone text to require a 5:12 roof pitch and permanent foundation for new single-story homes; and (3) amending R2 low- and medium-density residential zone text with like standards. The ordinances were introduced for subsequent readings; adoption will be scheduled at a later meeting.

The measure implements state statutory requirements while adding local performance standards staff says will preserve street character and allow qualified manufactured homes to be integrated without undermining historic neighborhoods.