Board OKs major home‑based HVAC business at 4131 Florence Road with conditions

The Rutherford County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a special exception allowing a major home‑based heating and air conditioning business to be conducted from a residence at 4131 Florence Road, with the record indicating services will be performed off‑site and vehicles parked at the property.

Doug (planning staff) told the board the request followed a zoning enforcement referral after county staff observed unpermitted business activity and three business vehicles at the property. The applicant, Michael Hanna, said the business performs work at customer sites and that no repairs are done at the residence. He acknowledged he would like to park up to three vans on the property; staff said the number of business vehicles triggered the classification as a major home‑based business.

Tonya (code enforcement) told the panel that staff received a neighbor complaint, inspected the site and that the owner subsequently filed the application. Neighbors who spoke in support described the applicant as a good neighbor and said they had no objections.

Board members asked operational questions: Hanna said there are no on‑site repairs, no customer visits to the home, and that his wife handles paperwork at the residence. He told the board routine maintenance on vehicles is handled at commercial shops, and he said he would not use signage to advertise the business. After discussion, a motion to approve the special exception with staff findings carried on a roll call vote: Mike Curtis — yes; Jerry Sartain — yes; Gary Farley — yes; Renee Curtis — yes; Patrick Hale — yes; Zane Cantrell — yes. The approval allows Hanna to park the vehicles on site under the major home‑based business rules, subject to any standard enforcement of conditions (no exterior signage, no on‑site repairs, and no customer traffic to the residence).