Council says no to modular home complex in east Midland

One day after getting a “no” vote from the Planning and Zoning Commission, residents and officials with a nearby Montessori school convinced the Midland City Council that such housing was not responsible development and created safety risks for families and students in that area.

less One day after getting a “no” vote from the Planning and Zoning Commission, residents and officials with a nearby Montessori school convinced the Midland City Council that such housing was not responsible ... more Photo: Google Maps Photo: Google Maps Image 1 of / 3 Caption Close Council says no to modular home complex in east Midland 1 / 3 Back to Gallery

Score one for NIMBY.

Residents of east Midland were successful in defeating a modular home park request that – if successful – would have put as many as 12 modular units in an undeveloped area of land near Lamesa Road and Dormand Avenue.

One day after getting a “no” vote from the Planning and Zoning Commission, residents and officials with a nearby Montessori school convinced the Midland City Council that such housing was not responsible development and created safety risks for families and students in that area.

It was a 6-1 vote. John B. Love III, the representative of the area where the development would have been located, was the lone person voting in favor. He also provided information from a study that modular, or mobile home, developments do not provide a greater risk of crime than other types of development. He also said cities should do better for its residents than being restrictive or isolating modular or mobile homes to areas determined to be undesirable.

RELATED: P&Z commissioners deny modular home park request

The developer from Louisiana said rent for a modular home would be around $1,800 to $2,000 a month. Officials connected to the project also said there would be wood fencing and safeguards in place to prevent these modular homes from being rentals that are home to four to six people working in the industry. The goal was to have tenants rooted in the community.

“This is not a man camp,” said Robert Rendell, a Midland attorney representing the developer.

It was a person from the oil industry and a neighborhood resident who used industry logic to make the case for opposition. Matt Galindo, who said he works for Pioneer Natural Resources, said the current “oil boom” will last “five to 10 years and then drop off.” He said neighbors who bought property looking to settle down would have to deal with potentially different users of the modular home park when that takes place.

Others made arguments that officials with the home park said they want to attract families but aren’t offering any amenities, such as a pool or playground. They also said current residents couldn’t afford to move and that the developers said they were going to seek residents – such as teachers and first responders – but those same people wouldn’t be able to afford the rent.

Councilman Jeff Sparks said during the meeting that he could vote against it because the 12 modular homes wouldn’t make much of a dent in the current housing problem.

The council heard and voted on other items related to housing, including an apartment complex located next to Beal Parkway that will include more than 250 units.