After months of discussion, a manufactured home community failed to get city council approval for a conditional use permit.
At a special called city council meeting Monday, Feb. 17, packed council chambers were filled with citizens eager to voice their opinions on the proposed development.
The project located on Harris and Norton behind the Public Works yard already received approval in a split council vote for a dense single family variance, which increased the amount of lots developer Joseph Borges could put on the 11 acre lot. The Council was deciding Monday night whether to approve a variance for manufactured homes in the area zoned for residential, acting on a recommendation from Planning & Zoning.
At the council meeting, numerous people spoke in opposition to the project, along with some in favor and several citizens who just wanted to ask questions of the developer. Mayor pro tem Sammy Moore who led the meeting since Mayor David Leatherwood was absent.
Borges and his wife Liz both spoke extending the five minute time frame to 10 minutes.
“We are here tonight because we want to invest in Dublin,” Borges said. “I think manufactured homes are an affordable solution to the housing shortage in Dublin.”
He included his and his wife’s history in Dublin and echoed they have strong ties to the community including attending church here.
Borges had presented several pages, though not all 28, that those moving into the gated manufactured home community would have to follow, much like an HOA.
Those renting property in the development would pay $650 in rent for their lots, which would include lawn care, financing shared spaces and infrastructure. Borges would be required to put in all streets, infrastructure such as water and sewer, and maintain it, if the project had moved forward.
Borges presented two sets of numbers including one for renting a lot and purchasing a manufactured home vs. a traditional home buy, saving about $500 a month.
In opposition to the project, Curtis Lewis asked council questions including if he would be allowed move in a manufactured home from China or California.
“Sounds like to me if you think this is the right fit for Dublin, you might have just fell for a good salesman,” he said. “It seems like you might have just fell for the first guy with a sack full of money and a good sales pitch… A modular development is another name for a glorified trailer park.”
Former Dublin ISD coach and current school board member Bob Cervetto encouraged the council to have a plan moving forward for the city.
“A one year plan, a 5 year plan, and a 10 year plan,” he said. “Where do you think the city is going to be? Guys, I love you, I’m not against anybody, but I sure want you to think through this process because it’s going to take work.”
Brock Weems, who has been purchasing and flipping homes, also spoke in opposition of the project.
“I want what’s best for the community, but I don’t think putting people in homes where they are leasing land and they are never not going to have a payment is really fair for the citizens,” he said. “There are a lot of questions and a lot of alternatives to building this.”
Carmen Andersen, owner of Grafton Center, spoke about the changes she has seen since she has been here for five years and what the future may hold.
“Growth and change is a foot in Dublin. I say that because I feel like we are at the crest of our new canvas or our dream that everyone is talking about. I feel like you guys are the stewards of that dream, for all of us,” she said. “I feel like everyone is here because they have a voice and you guys get to make that decision. Have you thought about what you’re voting? Does this fit into the plan you have for Dublin, Texas?”
Miles Gilman, a local resident who has several rental properties in town, asked Borges several questions regarding numbers and stated that with traditional homeownership the assets do not depreciate in value like manufactured homes.
Homi Limbuwala, who is a neighbor to the property, offered comments.
“This may be a good idea but the location is wrong. It could be somewhere where there is a main road, a highway, the Loop where people can just get on it, and they’re gone,” he said. He also expressed concern about the speed in which the project was moving forward and a lack of knowledge regarding the project with citizens in the city.
Carolyn Tidwell, who is also a neighbor to the property, voiced concerns about the safety of kids who may be walking back and forth to school from the development and urged the council to make sure all safety was addressed.
Patrick Salyer also spoke in opposition to the project.
“79 homes on 10 acres? Good Lord. They gonna be stacked in there, and I mean stacked in there something fierce,” he said. “That just don’t seem right for Dublin.”
Bo Kabala, who serves on Planning and Zoning, spoke about all kinds of people needing to live in a manufactured home for a variety of reasons.
“I guess the only question I’m asking is isn’t it the case sometimes that can be someone’s home?” he asked. “I volunteered at a homeless shelter when I was finishing up school in North Carolina. I can remember thinking that was kind of weird being a young Christian in the shelter having conversations with people who didn’t know where they were going to go after leaving the shelter. I’ve heard things like, ‘a home, is a home, is a home.’” Darrell Curry, as a former councilmember, spoke about the council having to make difficult decisions.
“The one thing I’ve heard tonight is a lot of negative. There are a lot of people in this room – more people than I’ve seen the whole time I was on council – but nobody has offered a solution to fix it,” he said. “Everybody has ideas but there is one person in this room that wants to fix the housing shortage,” Curry said. “I’m not saying I’m for it or against it, but a man is trying to help Dublin and no one in this room is trying to help him help Dublin.”
After the public hearing closed, councilmembers were permitted to ask questions of the developer.
Councilmember Nancy Williams said she just wanted to address that they were making affordable housing, and ran through numbers with the developer including lot rental, house payments and associated charges.
“I just want to make sure when we say affordable housing we are really hitting those people who are making $50,000 a year. That we really are approving affordable housing,” she said.
Councilmember Darren Turley said he took the tour in Burleson about manufactured homes and a development that is similar.
“I believe this is a good start and I believe that’s a big start for what we need in this town. I think it helps us,” he said.
Turley made the motion for approval and it died due to a lack of second. Williams made the motion to deny the conditional use permit, which was seconded by Councilmember Jacob McCullough.
The motion to deny passed with Turley in opposition.
The conditional use permit was approved at the P&Z meeting Thursday, Feb. 13 meeting in a 2-1 vote.
Paul Gaudette resigned from the board prior to the vote due to a conflict of interest with the newspaper covering meetings.
After extensive discussion including a public hearing at P&Z, a motion to deny the conditional use permit was made by Ben Pate. It died due to a lack of second.
P&Z member Kassi Eads made a motion for approval and Bo Kabala seconded. It passed with a recommendation to council for approval. P&Z’s actions are nonbinding for council.