BLAND — Bland city officials began what could become a significant shift in local housing policyon Feb. 9, opening discussion on how the city should regulate tiny homes, modular homes, manufactured homes and duplexes.

The conversation centered on whether to draft a new ordinance establishing minimum size requirements, foundation standards and zoning limitations for smaller or alternative housing types.

“I asked everybody that comes in the store, what do you think of tiny homes? What do you think of duplexes, and what do you think of modular homes? And I got all kinds of comments, good, bad and ugly,” Mayor Merrilee Spurgeon said. “When we write this ordinance up, we need to consider all of these things.”

Discussion included the requirement for permanent foundations and utility hookups.

“Most people said a tiny home or a modular home, either one should be at least on a permanent foundation, with at least a concrete slab or a basement, no blocks,” Alderman Shari Morgan said. “Not just a block foundation, but a solid, permanent foundation, with sewer and water.”

Spurgeon expressed concern about allowing movable trailer-style units within city limits.

“I don’t want them sprinkled all over town,” Spurgeon said.

Council members discussed possible minimum size requirements, with square footage ranging between 500 and 700 square feet.

“There was a difference in the size, anywhere from 500 to 700 square feet for the minimum,” Spurgeon said. “So we as a team need to decide, what do you think the smallest should be?”

One suggestion was to eliminate the “tiny house” label altogether.

“I think we should delete the whole term ‘tiny house’ and just make this ‘minimum square footage’ on a home,” Police Chief Charles Holtz said.

The discussion also turned to the distinction between modular, manufactured and mobile homes.

“There is a difference,” Spurgeon said. “If you Google them, there is a difference.”

Another noted that a property owner had inquired about placing a manufactured home within city limits.

“She had questions about putting a manufactured home on it,” Morgan said. “Of course it had to be hooked up to city water utilities, to be on a slab, on a permanent foundation.”

Some members acknowledged that modern modular homes can rival traditional site-built homes in quality.

“They are really well built. Some of those are really well built,” Morgan said.

Beyond tiny homes, council members reported growing interest in duplex construction.

“I have two people that have come to me and said they really would be interested in building a duplex,” Spurgeon said.

One member indicated potential rental pricing could influence tenant quality.

“The rent would be high enough that it would draw more people that would have more respect,” Spurgeon said.

A comment from the police chief reflected a broader concern about maintaining community standards.

“If you guys give these guys dirt cheap places to live, you’re gonna have riffraff,” Holtz said.

Before moving forward, officials agreed the city must review and update its existing planning and zoning ordinances.

“We have it all. It just needs to be updated,” Spurgeon said

No action was taken on housing standards, but officials indicated the issue will return with more defined proposals.