Goodrich – On July 29, nearly 300 people gathered at the Goodrich High School Auditorium to discuss the proposed mobile home park in Atlas Township.
State Representative David Robertson (R-Grand Blanc) sponsored the public meeting to get a feel from the community on the many issues surrounding mobile home parks.
The meeting stems from a three year debate between the Atlas Township Planning Commission, the Goodrich Village Council, the Atlas Land Company, the Michigan Mobile Home Commission and many residents.
At issue is the possible construction of 500 to 1,000 mobile homes to be located on 173 acres from Hegel to Collidge roads off Henderson Road. On May 21 the Atlas Township Planning Commission had scheduled a public hearing where residents could question the developer regarding the proposed site. However, the developer failed to make an appearance. Aother meeting was then scheduled.
On Tuesday, a mix of state lawmakers, village and township officials, along with concerned residents from Atlas, Fenton Goodrich, Holly and Genesee County gathered to further debate the proposal.
Robertson urged his fellow legislators and the public to bring forward their thoughts regarding mobile home taxation, environmental issues, school growth and population. The results were to be delivered to the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairman of the Local Government and Urban Policy for review.
‘Rather than sit back and wait to see laws, many of which are more than 40 years old, effect our lives and communities, I wanted to take a proactive approach’bring the leaders and citizens together and try to change things. It’s drafting public policy in reverse,? said Robertson, who was elected in November 2002.
Robertson and lawmakers hope to implement two new House bills.
n House Bill 4909 consists of governing rules, codes, licensure and installation and repair. The bill would require the local government, rather than the Department of Environmental Quality, to promulgate rules setting forth minimum standards for mobile home parks. Thus, the power would be shifted from the state to local governing authorities, where essentially, say lawmakers, they have a better grasp on what their communities need and want.
n House Bill 4910 says construction could not begin on a mobile home until a permit to construct was granted by the local governmental unit. Currently, this is granted by the Department of Consumer and Industry. Jerry Griffin from the Michigan Association of Counties said mobile home issues need to be addressed soon.
‘We cannot continue to piecemeal this because now we have a system that doesn’t work. Let them put a firehouse, landfill, school and courthouse all within their structure to pay the same share as everyone else.?
Many in attendance argue that pieces of information in the Michigan legislature surrounding mobile home development currently do not meet the same standards as other new developments. Tax brackets are different, school systems are not prepared to handle the growth and the Mobile Home Commission in Lansing has not helped local government take back the reins of policy and decision making in their own communities.
Bill Anderson of the Townships Association said the mobile home industry thrives on lawyers and press secretaries.
‘They are looking for an empty cornfield. The state laws that surround this are tearing apart communities,? said Anderson.
President of the Fenton Township Residents Association, Tony Brown, agrees with Anderson.
‘Lawyers have been dictating the laws. We are not discriminating against any one person, we just want it to be the same for everyone. If developers are so concerned about helping the poor as they say they are, they should use the land for its natural purpose and grow crops to feed the hungry and the poor.?
Brown urged the panel of legislators and Robertson to abolish the Mobile Home Commission in Lansing.