Citizen decries city lot ordinance

Michael Engelhart can’t buy a home in Custer. And it isn’t because he can’t afford it. It’s because of an ordinance on the city’s books.

Engelhart was at the Feb. 9 meeting of the Custer City council, imploring the council to consider reviewing the ordinance, saying it will cost others the chance to own a home in town.

The ordinance states that any home that is destroyed on an unconforming lot within the city limits can never be rebuilt. That city ordinance caused his loan to fall through because his secondary lender would not loan the money without a rebuild letter being issued—something he can’t get because his lot is unconforming, meaning it is not a full-sized lot.