The controversy brewing in Water Valley and Yalobusha County over a potential expansion of a trailer park not far from Main Street holds some valuable lessons for county leaders.

Oxford’s growth and rise in real estate demand means that both Lafayette County and also Yalobusha County leaders need to be more proactive about adopting zoning plans and ordinances.

That doesn’t mean that counties need something as strict as what a city like Oxford has. But it isn’t fair to residents or developers for that matter for rules to be made on the fly.

The group of developers from Oxford that has purchased a small trailer park in Water Valley and adjoining land in the county to potentially expand that trailer park made a purchase based upon a county that has no zoning laws.

So in their mind, if they can get the property to satisfy flood plain requirements then they should be able to develop a trailer park. But in the minds of Water Valley’s residents, including Mayor Larry Hart, there’s a different thought.

They strongly believe that a large trailer park in that location is not in the best interest of the community.  And that’s a fair point.

So this is a wake up call for county leaders. More planning, and perhaps even zoning, is going to be required in the future in our counties.