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The LaGrange City Council has denied a request to rezone property on Lukken Industrial Drive that would have allowed for a large, manufactured home park.

The rezoning request, which would have rezoned 54.2 acres at 1510 Lukken Industrial Drive from Campus General Industrial Agribusiness (CP-GI) to Special District Manufactured Housing (SD-MH) had previously been recommended 4-1 by the Board of Planning and Zoning Appeals.

The developer, Cook Properties, had requested the rezoning to place 145 manufactured homes on the 54-acre property. The developer planned to rent lots to place the manufactured homes, which residents would need to purchase separately at a cost of approximately $95,000 to $110,000.

Developer Jeffery Cook told the council earlier that they do not finance the homes, but they help arrange financing. He said the total monthly cost would likely be around $1,200 to $1,500 including lot rental and mortgage. The city held a public hearing on Dec. 12, where several citizens voiced opposition to the potential zoning change and manufactured home park.

Citizens questioned the affordability of the manufactured homes, whether they would remain presentable over time and the large number of lots.

Before the vote, Councilman Leon Childs thanked Cook for his attempt to bring more affordable housing to LaGrange, but he ultimately made a motion to deny the rezoning.

“I thank you for your willingness to try to bring some affordable housing,” Childs said. “Hopefully there will be opportunities for you to do that and to work with people like LaGrange Housing Authority, Habitat [for Humanity] and CAFI of LaGrange. They’re doing a great job trying to bring affordable housing, so maybe you can get the chance to work with them.”

The rezoning was denied 5-0, with Councilman Nathan Gaskin recusing himself due to living near the property in question.