Mobile home parks could come up under stiff new regulations on roads, trash and general appearance.

Owners of parks who do not comply after a specified period of time would not be able to replace any existing mobile homes in the park.

The Rowan County Planning Board took its first look Monday night at a new zoning amendment governing maintenance of manufactured home parks.

The board unanimously agreed to schedule a June 25 public hearing to gauge public sentiment. Board Chairman John Linker urged the planning staff to notify owners of mobile home parks as well as neighbors about the hearing and invite them to speak.

For nearly two years, county commissioners and the Planning Board have heard a continuous chant from residents across the county calling for regulations to clean up unsightly mobile home parks.

County Planner Marion Lytle said the new regulations are almost identical to those used in Stanly County.

Some board members, including Greg Childs, again questioned whether the proposal unfairly targets mobile homes, with no such regulations for stick-built homes, duplexes or apartments.

“We can start with mobile homes and move on,” said Vice Chairman William Yow.

Childs agreed that there are many mobile home parks that need to be cleaned up but suggested the threat of not allowing park owners to replace homes could create more resistance.

“There are stiff-neck people,” said Childs.“This may not be most effective.”

Board member Terry Hill questioned the provision that specifies roads must be 18 feet wide and built to N.C. Department of Transportation standards, except paving.

Lytle acknowledged that some “mom and pop” parks, which have three or four units, won’t be able to meet the standard. He said commissioners may act to exempt the very small parks.

All driveways must be free of gullies, potholes and drainage problems.

The new regulations also specify each unit must have two graveled parking spaces immediately adjacent and requires a trash dumpster or weekly pickup of individual containers.

A copy of the proposed new wording is available at the county Planning Office, 402 N. Main St.

In other matters, the board:

• Gave a favorable recommendation to new regulations governing race tracks on an 8-2 vote. Art Steinberg and Greg Childs dissented.

The board split 5-5 on a proposed to develop separate regulations for go-cart tracks and speedways.

Al and Barbara Welter of China Grove, who own Millbridge Speedway, questioned the new regulations.

The Welters recently filed an appeal in Rowan Superior Court to a county ruling that effectively closes the go-cart track.

If the Welters win the appeal, they could reopen without meeting the new regulations.If the appeal fails and they seek to re-open under the proposed regulations, Welter said he would be out of business.

The proposed ordinance requires a minimum of 20 acres for a go-cart track. Millbridge Speedway sits on 15 acres.

• Unanimously recommended the rezoning of property on High Rock Road from rural agricultural to industrial.

Garland Faw, a well-known Kannapolis minister and businessman, detailed plans to move his wood-planing operation from behind Grove Supply on U.S. 29. Faw markets log homes nationwide.

Board members agreed with planners that the business would be a perfect fit for the area.

Soil conditions won’t sustain septic tanks, prohibiting residential building.

Faw agreed to limitations on the rezoning.

• Unanimously recommended a request from Charles Johnson to rezone two small parcels along Belk Road from rural agricultural to industrial.

One of the sites is currently home for a millwork operation, Carolina Wood Stairs.

The business has grown and needs more space.

During a public hearing, a resident objected to the plan to expand into a poultry house near his home.

Johnson said he didn’t want to make neighbors mad and would be willing to expand at his current 225 Belk Road site, instead of adding the second site.

• Gave a favorable recommendation to rezoning of property at 2580 Airport Road to commercial. Owner Thomas J. Edwards agreed to a series of conditions, including planting fast-growing trees to act as a buffer.

Some residents of the area complained that they weren’t notified that the discussion was set for Monday night.

• Lytle briefly reviewed the department’s work on the I-85 rezoning efforts. He promised a complete review at a later meeting.

Contact Jessie Burchette at 704-797-4254 or jburchette@salisburypost.com .