Parish Council says no to manufactured home in Franklin

FRANKLIN — A prospective Franklin homeowner on Wednesday lost a second bid for a zoning change that would allow her to put a manufactured home on a Franklin-area lot.
The action was about one home on one lot.
But it fits into a larger debate about codes and zoning as the parish anticipates increasing demand for housing while growing sensitive to possible objections from potential neighbors.
Karin Bertrand had hoped to place a manufactured home on a lot in the 11000 area of La. 182.
Renee Dupre, representing Bertrand, had argued at a previous rezoning attempt and again Wednesday that the home was built to industry standards, meets code requirements and would be secured on the ground.
“This home is going to be set up like a regular home,” Dupre said. “It is built to code, down to our installation, 2 x 6s, Sheetrock, everything you can imagine.”
Dupre also tried to steer the request into a question of whether the manufactured home can be considered a single-family home that could fit the local zoning rules.
But council members pushed back.
“It wasn’t ‘single family,’” said Councilman Rodney Olander of Franklin. “I think the issue is ‘manufactured home.’ That was the reason for going to Planning & Zoning in the first place.”
Later: “I’m going to base my vote on what the people out there want.”
Councilman Dean Adams of Morgan City said one of the council’s duties is to protect property values.
“If we keep changing this and values of the property lower, we’re going to hurt some of our taxing districts because they’ll be collecting less revenue.”
Council Chairwoman Gwendolyn Hidalgo of Bayou Vista argued against what she called spot zoning, which undermines efforts to make planning and zoning rules work.
Three residents of that area along La. 182 spoke against the variance.
John Werner owns the Dixie Plantation in that area. The plantation, built in 1835, has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1987.
George Pickett, who led the Confederates during Pickett’s Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg, was married there in 1851, according to “The Pelican Guide to Plantation Homes in Louisiana.” It was later owned by Gov. Murphy J. Foster.
Werner objected to what he said is a potential impact on nearby property values.
And “Franklin is unique in its collection of historic homes. … The people who are coming here are not coming here to see manufactured housing.”
Prospective neighbor Charles Billodeau also objected.
“My belief is manufactured housing will devalue property in some fashion,” Billodeau said.
Becky Pitre pointed to Franklin’s efforts to enhance the beauty of the city.
“Our neighborhood includes historic homes …,” Pitre said. “Manufactured housing in this location would be out of character and could cause an impact on our property values.”
With three members absent, the council voted 8-0 against the variance.