Despite the ongoing economic downturn, residential development in Union County is increasing.

According to the Catawba Regional Council of Government’s table of regional building permit trends, Union County has seen a 120% increase in mobile home permits. The table compares building activity between the first quarter (January-March) 2010 with the first quarter of 2009. The data for Union County shows a significant decrease in permits for single family homes and a significant increase in permits for mobile homes. No other permits were issued.

“It is good to see changes, even if they are minute,” said Catawba Regional Senior Planner Mike Vead. “We are a long way from where we were in 2007, but housing markets are beginning to turn the corner a little bit in the way of residential.”

During the first quarter of this year, two single family permits and eleven mobile home permits were issued in Union County, compared to six single family permits and five mobile home permits in 2009. There were no multi-family, commercial or industrial permits issued.

Union County Supervisor Tommy Sinclair mentioned two reasons for the increase in building permits.

“One reason is that the economy is perking up a bit,” said Sinclair.

Sinclair said some credit should be given to the relatively new Department of Building Safety.

“It’s a learning process and a growing process,” said Sinclair. He stated there were many people in the county who weren’t aware that a building permit was needed, and they are now getting permits for building activity.

Vead hopes the increase will continue, and stated Catawba Regional will continue to track activity and release a second report for this year at the end of June.

Catawba Regional Council of Governments is a voluntary association of local governments in Chester, Lancaster, Union and York counties that serves as a forum for intergovernmental cooperation and as a central staffing resource for grantsmanship, research, environmental and economic development, workforce planning, project management, computer mapping, business lending and technical assistance. Catawba Regional maintains a building permit tracking system that dates back to 1996.