LETTERS: BENTON REGULATIONS ARE CHALLENGED

To the editor:

The city of Benton has prided itself on self-government for all of its long history as a town, and the will of the people in the community has prevailed.

But that is about to change. The self-government and the will of the people are being challenged by outside forces, namely a local mobile-home and manufactured-home distributor, in a lawsuit brought against the city declaring the guidelines of the Planning and Zoning Commission's regulations limit his ability to provide housing on lots he has, by design, acquired in the city, even though he is opening a 100-unit park in the near future. It seems we have fallen prey to greed and big business.

Like so many other places in Missouri, Benton is home to a lot of people who have worked hard to preserve and maintain a city with a long, historic past and where pride of ownership, cleanliness and harmony among the residents have always been our goals. Now we are being told our efforts were too good and our goals were too high.

Now someone outside of our city wants to make a living off our good fortune of being able to grow as we go, accusing us of discriminating against the mobile-home and manufactured-home industry and the rights of tenants who might benefit from this scheme.

Beware, other towns and cities. You might be next. The double-wides are coming. Be smart and set aside a portion of your zoned property for them so they can look like their neighbor just as we who prefer site-built homes and landscaping want to look like our neighbor.

When the ideals and aspirations of those who care about the image of their homes and their contribution to the community are threatened by someone who only sees the monetary value in the next tenant, where do we go or what can we do to recapture our right of self-government?

Don't come to Benton looking for a town without mobile homes. We have a blend that reflects the growth of the city, not a business.

MARY MILLER

Benton