 Rowan County commissioners heard about
mobile homes for three solid hours Monday, as people made appeals to hearts, minds and
pocketbooks. People
opposing new mobile home regulations held a clear majority among the hundreds who came out
for the hearing in the auditorium at South Rowan High School. They waved placards and wore
sticker patches calling for no new restrictions. They included many mobile home industry
workers. Those speaking at the microphone against new rules outnumbered the advocates two
to one.
Not that those backing the new
rules were silent. They clapped loudly for their speakers and kept coming down to the
microphone in spite of the loud boos their remarks sometimes drew.
More than once, board Chairman
Newton Cohen warned the crowd to be more polite and respectful. He said the board would
leave if things got out of hand, but that was never necessary. After the meeting, however,
Cohen could be heard telling a mobile home lobbyist that the crowd behavior had hurt the
case for no new restrictions.
Commissioners took no action
Monday. Action could come as soon as the board’s June 7 meeting, which begins at 9
a.m.
At issue is whether the county
should require a rezoning to place a mobile home on any newly-created lot. That would
involve conducting a public hearing in each case, thus giving the neighbors a chance to
say whether or not they want the mobile home next door. And the proposal by the county
would require the rezoned area – called a mobile home *itoverlay – to cover at
least two acres.
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