Hey, Vetteman. We are not within a town' jurisdiction. The building code authority is county government and environmental regs are state. In tidal areas, state and federal. There are fair and reasonable building codes for stick-built home that involve setback, foundation depth and type, and hurricaine saftey provisions, such as rafter and beam tie-downs. As to mobile homes, all you need is proof that you have filed a septic plan with division of natural resources and a deed wihtout specific restrictions on mobil homes. There is no regulation or guideline for foundations or tie-down for the trailer. There is no granting of occupancy step. That is clearly a guideline that would have helped this young man by requiring the mobile home retailer to pour a piling for the piers, or pour a footing for the foundation. In this case, the trailer sank in a matter of days. He had to actually pay more for the outfit to come out and put a concrete block foundation under the perimeter---on packed sand--still no footing. In this case, he also contracted with a fly-by-night septic company that didn't follow enviromnmental code or the original approved plan. All of the other wisdom issues aside, we have a consumer who has gotten hosed becasue he showed no common sense AND there were no basic regulations to make the contractors do their work correctly.
I know there are a bunch of folks who think government shouldn't be involved in land use and zoning. First, IMO, I believe in public schools and public works for roads and safety. I find it interesting that people who think there should be no government direction on land use and zoning complain about developments with $300-$500 houses all in the same breath. People who are building these "McMansions" also do not want trailer courts or dump-and-run double-wides in their realm. Sounds like everyone would benefit from some sort of zoning and land use controls, even those who want none want something done about something.
My family still operates farms in southern Iowa and Kansas--about 1,200 acres in total. About half of it has been in the family since the early 1900s. On both sides of the family, there is always a constant effort to participate in land use and zoning politics and there has been for years. It's naive to say that land use and zoning issues are the same for agricultural land as they are for single family housing land. And truly naive to say that "anything goes on my neighbor's land--it's his right." My family lost a bitter battle when a farmer neighbor sold out to a battery manufacturer. The battery plant has not only effected the land value but has effected the ag production potential and environmental stabilty of the water table. In addition, developers are fighting to change ag zoning over to residential development zoning (trailer court) near another 90 acre family parcel. If any of you operated a century farm would you really embrace a trailer court being put right next to your family land? Think very carefully, rather than just say "..no problem. They've got the right!"
I do truly believe this guy had a legal right to put a double-wide on that land, but his family and everyone else cannot believe he did what he did. He didn't bother to look around or look forward. He could have gone to the bank with a free and clear asset worth over $100 K and borrowed the same amount and built a nice, modest home. Instead, he's fighting with an two companies that probably won't be here in a year's time; he's fighting with his family and neighbors; and he's going to lose the economic and legacy value of the land. His fiannced $30,000 investment will be worth nothing in 10 years when factoring the cost of removal. Hopefully, the land will retain it value.
Bottom line, guys: a little family intervention and some basic building code regulation and zoning language detail would have made this guy and everyone else happier in the long run. Imagine how it might be on land adjacent to yours if if there were no land use guidleines in your area. As a person with agricultural and residential land interests, I can say that I am for fair land use controls and building codes in my county and state. In addition, as a person who has struggled financially early in my career, I can say with true sincerity that I hope he can find a way to make this work for his sake, not just mine. I'm doing what I can to protect my investment. When my work is done, I am going to help him put in a lawn and dirveway of his own. It will help both of our causes.
