Big Spring City Council approves zoning changes in a 4-2 vote Tuesday

In a meeting lasting four hours Tuesday evening, the Big Spring City Council discussed changes to the city’s zoning regulations, as well as several other matters.

The council discussed changes to the city’s rules governing carports in the city; recreational vehicles and mobile and manufactured homes; and shortterm rental properties.

The proposal concerning carports passed – with some amendments introduced during the meeting – 4-2, with council members Troy Tompkins (District 5) and Maury Smith (District 6) dissenting.

Among the changes the introduced by the measure, a requirement that neighbors of a property owner who applies to build a carport be notified was repealed; residential lots are limited to one carport; a carport must be open on at least one side; carports on the side of a property must be at least three feet from the property line and may not overhang public or private easements; the roof space of carports may not be used; the area beneath a carport must be paved or covered with non-combustible material other than dirt; carports must be used only for parking vehicles and not for storage or non-vehicular use; carports may not direct water runoff onto neighboring property; and carports must have a pitched roof not less than 8/2 pitch.

Notably, the changes as originally proposed would have limited carport openings to a maximum height of eight feet; but after discussion, that requirement was removed.

The second measure prohibited RVs and travel trailers as long-term residential living units within city limits, except at designated RV parks. As originally presented, the measure would not have included the exemption for RV parks, but the council amended it prior to approval.

The measure bans mobile homes manufactured before 1976 and manufactured homes may not be used as an office or business building except as an office at a manufactured home park, a manufactured home retail sales lot, or in certain temporary roles approved by the city.

Manufactured home utilities must be connected according to the city’s building code and must be placed on an improved surface graded for drainage and stability; and must be properly tied down on the property with the towing tongue removed and appropriate skirting attached.

Mobile and manufactured homes may receive temporary permits up to a year in duration to house a resident building a conventional home, given that the mobile home is placed on the building lot during the construction; to use as a construction office at a job site; or to house a person or their caretaker for health reasons.

Additionally, mobile homes may be parked temporarily in front of a home for up to five days within a month by obtaining a permit from the city.

The mobile/manufacture home and recreational vehicle amendments passed on a council vote of 5-1, with Tompkins dissenting.