Wilson County Board of Zoning Appeals approves multiple variances, renews short‑term rental and Haunted Woods permit

The Wilson County Board of Zoning Appeals on a motion-and-vote record at its October meeting approved a series of variances for accessory structures and nonconforming lots, renewed a short‑term rental permit for one year and reauthorized the Haunted Woods seasonal attraction for one year with operating‑day limits.

The board moved first on an application from Theodore Bunting seeking approval to operate a short‑term rental on Linwood Road. The applicant told the board the property will be managed to meet county rules, that an on‑site event building has been removed from advertised listings and that the advertised maximum has been reduced to six overnight guests. Theodore Bunting, the applicant, said he accepted responsibility for not obtaining required zoning earlier and said, “when you know better, you do better.” The board approved the renewal for one year and included the business plan and stipulations in the approval, including a maximum of six overnight guests and a prohibition on operating an event center.

The board then considered multiple variance requests for accessory structures and lot requirements across the county. Staff presented recommendations and historical notes for each lot; several parcels were identified as older tracts of record, which staff said supported approval for setback and lot‑size variances under the zoning ordinance. The board approved variances including: - a 3‑foot height variance to permit a 25‑foot accessory building for a private indoor pickleball court on Karen Drive; - variances to allow a replacement house footprint and related setback and lot‑width exceptions on Vester Road (existing substandard lot of record); - a rear‑yard setback variance to permit a residential pool at…