Tiny houses were the topic of conversation during the Warrenton Board of Aldermen’s work session Feb. 10, and while one alderman is very much in support of the concept, two others voiced concerns with the idea.

Aldeman Brandon Lang started the discussion as he has voiced previously a desire to allow tiny homes on wheels in Warrenton. He said his reason for making the proposal is that there is no housing diversity in Warrenton. He said the cheapest monthly rent he was able to find doing a search throughout the community was $950. He also said that the per capita income in the city is $36,000 and noted that many of the new homes being built in the community are being sold for $300,000 at the lower end. His concern, he said, was that many people in Warrenton cannot afford to purchase their own home.

“If we allow these tiny homes, their cost is usually $30,000 to $70,000,” Lang said.

Mayor Eric Schleuter focused the conversation of the board by outlining the specific proposal Lang had previously presented to the board, namely that a tiny home would be between 200 and 500 square feet, with a maximum occupancy of four people per unit. The homes would only allow for residential designs, with a pitched roof with residential windows and doors. Recreational vehicle or trailer appearance would be prohibited. A tiny home subdivision or park would be no less than three acres and would allow no more than eight tiny homes per acre. Minimum lots would be 4,000 square feet.

Lang said there are other cities in Missouri who are allowing tiny homes, although he noted that those developments take a number of forms, including subdivisions owned by nonprofits and others geared towards veterans. He suggested allowing a developer build a subdivision and then lease out lots that tiny home owners could use to set their homes on, much like a mobile home park.

In response to a question during the meeting from Alderman Roger Romaker, Lang said the target audience would be millennials and younger adults as well as seniors.

During initial discussion of his proposal, Alderman Christine Wait asked whether tiny homes would be on wheels or on a foundation. Lang said he would be in support of putting them on a foundation, but he wasn’t sure how the other board members felt about that.

Alderman Larry Corder objected to Lang’s per capita income numbers, saying that the numbers in Warrenton were closer to $61,000. He also said that based upon his calculations the cost of a tiny home of 500 square feet at $150 per square foot, a tiny home would be $75,000. He further suggested that with a lot rental for a tiny home the cost to a consumer could be well over $1,000 per month.

Romaker said he was concerned about maintenance of a subdivision that would house tiny homes.

Wait also raised concerns about allowing tiny homes in Warrenton and the effect those homes would have on other owners' property values.

The board then discussed potential sites. Romaker asked if any developers would be interested in building such a park, and Lang said he did have one potential developer reach out to him that would possibly be interested.

Wait said mobile homes had to meet state and federal standards and was concerned about whether tiny homes could meet the same standards. Lang said he felt tiny homes would meet or exceed any standards applicable to mobile homes.

Schleuter said that he felt the best approach would be for the board members to possibly tour some tiny home parks in other parts of the state to get a feel for what the board would be considering.

Corder and Wait voiced concerns that they did not feel like tiny homes would be appropriate for Warrenton.

“I don’t see this adding anything to our community,” Corder said.

“I agree, I don’t see this as adding any value to our community period,” Wait said.

Since the meeting was scheduled as a work session, no vote was taken on the proposal.