Hamblen County commissioners' RV/camper study committee voted 9'to'4 April 14 to accept Planning Commission draft version 5 of proposed regulations governing recreational vehicles, campers and tiny homes, including a 24-month compliance period for people living in such units on private property.

The committee's discussion opened with public testimony that illustrated the range of community concerns. One resident described persistent neighborhood problems she attributed to multiple campers on a neighboring lot, including roaming dogs and raw sewage, and said the conditions had caused personal injury and medical costs. Later, Linda Noe (identified in the meeting record) urged the commission to set rules that would allow some people to live in RVs or campers on their property if they properly dispose of waste and meet other standards.

Committee chair Kyle Walker framed the immediate task for commissioners: the Planning Commission had proposed a single amendment that would grant a grace period for compliance; the committee needed to decide whether to accept Planning's draft (which would allow the grace period) or to deny it and permit zoning staff to begin enforcement immediately under existing codes. Multiple commissioners described the choice in those terms: a yes vote would adopt draft version 5 and allow the transitional period; a no vote would let zoning pursue enforcement actions under existing rules without the additional delay.

Speakers and commissioners gave sharply divided views. Commissioner Thomas Doty, among others, argued for compassion and regulatory paths that would allow people with limited means to remain if they met specified hookups and limits. Other commissioners recounted field visits and described situations they said posed immediate threats to child safety and public health; they pressed for adherence to existing building and sanitation standards and for timely enforcement.

After discussion, the committee voted to accept draft version 5 of the Planning Commission's recreational vehicle, camper and tiny-home regulations. The meeting recorded a roll-call result of 9 in favor and 4 opposed. The roll call recorded the following positions: Debbie Ahern (yes); Amy Bell (yes); Thomas Doty (no); [Ms.] Green (no); Dennis Hartlewood (yes); Bob O'Naughn (yes); Tim Horner (yes); Peggy Howe (no); Rodney Long (yes); Wayne E. Smith (no); Mike Reed (yes); Mike Richardson (yes); Al Walker (yes). The transcript recorded the final outcome as "Motion passes 9 to 4." (Some votes were recorded with first or last names only in the transcript; the list above follows the roll-call entries in the meeting record.)

What the vote does: accepting draft version 5 authorizes the Planning Commission's proposed text and a transitional allowance; zoning staff told commissioners that, if the committee had voted not to accept the draft, zoning could begin immediate enforcement under current rules, including fines. The draft itself includes provisions governing recreational use, storage and permanent placement; details of hookup, wastewater disposal, and lot-size limits are contained in the Planning Commission text rather than in the committee transcript.

Next steps: Planning and zoning staff will proceed under the adopted draft; commissioners and staff said they expect further work on implementation, enforcement procedures and any companion building-code amendments. Several commissioners and members of the public requested that planning develop clearer, enforceable standards for waste disposal and hookups and return with an implementation plan.