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Supervisors approve rezoning for Smith River Rentals; board asks BZA to consider parking condition after public concerns
Summary
The Henry County Board of Supervisors rezoned a Ridgeway property to allow conversion of first-floor space into an Airbnb, and asked the Board of Zoning Appeals to consider parking, ingress/egress and signage conditions after neighbors raised concerns about where guests would park.
The Henry County Board of Supervisors on July 22 approved a rezoning request for a property on Ferrystone Park Highway so the downstairs can be converted for use as an Airbnb, and asked the Board of Zoning Appeals to consider attaching parking-related conditions to any special-use permit.
The property owner, referenced in the packet as Mark Brogan/Smith River Rentals, sought rezoning of about 0.22 acres from Commercial District B1 to Neighborhood Commercial District B2. Planning staff reported the building already contains two "grandfathered" upstairs apartments; the applicant has filed a concurrent special-use permit application to convert the first floor into short-term rental space.
At the public hearing, a nearby property representative, S. T. Folger, raised concerns about guest parking overlapping a driveway and gravel lot used by an adjacent organization that hosts a church on Sundays. "We have questions about where the people that use this are going to park," Folger said. Board members and planning staff said parking and ingress/egress are commonly addressed as conditions by the Board of Zoning Appeals when issuing special-use permits.
Supervisor Doctor Cobler moved to approve the rezoning "with a stipulation of the conversation and the language for whatever rules that will apply for the parking," and the motion passed 6-0. The board's action allows the zoning change; the special-use permit hearing to review conversion and potential conditions (signage, lighting, required parking layout or limits) was scheduled for the planning-related hearing the following day.
Planning staff and a member of the public noted the building had an occupancy pattern "roughly 70%" during the year, and that the property owner controls adjacent private parking if it exists. Staff emphasized that if guests park on someone else's private land, the landowner can enforce parking restrictions and that operating a short-term rental requires the owner to ensure lawful parking for guests.
Ending: The board approved the rezoning but directed the BZA to consider parking, egress/ingress and related conditions during the pending special-use-permit review; neighbors who raised concerns were told staff and the applicant can be asked to provide further clarifications to the board if needed.
