Trousdale County panel votes to send consolidated zoning ordinance, PUD changes to planning review

The Trousdale County planning subcommittee voted to send a consolidated zoning ordinance and related rezoning cleanups to the county planning commission for statutory review, the panel decided at a meeting where members also discussed PUD minimums and temporary-residence rules.

The subcommittee chair said the draft combines previously separate zoning provisions into a single cleaned document and that state law requires planning commission review for zoning ordinances before they come to the full county commission. The draft incorporates a recent change to planned unit development (PUD) rules that reduces the minimum PUD size from five acres to two acres, the chair said.

The change to a two-acre PUD minimum was discussed as a way to allow more developments to qualify for certain programs; the transcript records a subcommittee member saying, “The idea was it allowed you to get more developments qualifying for a HUD zone where you would lock in the project.” Planning staff member Rick explained that the PUD revision will require applicants to map unit counts and site layout so the county has visibility of how many units would be allowed on rezoned lots.

The subcommittee also reviewed rules that previously allowed mobile homes for medical hardship; staff and members said medical-hardship provisions were removed earlier and that what remains is a narrower “special hardship” allowance tied to replacement housing after fire or other destruction, with a time limit. Planning staff said temporary residences during reconstruction would be allowed under special hardship for up to 18 months and that state fuel-gas and building codes remain separate from zoning rules.

A motion to forward the consolidated ordinance to the planning commission passed with no recorded opposition. The chair said the subcommittee will attempt to have the planning commission consider the draft and, if planning sends a favorable recommendation, the county commission may consider it in a September or October work session.

Members framed the vote as a procedural step: planning commission review is required by state statute before the full commission acts on zoning ordinances. Several members noted the subcommittee’s intent was a “cleanup” rather than substantive new regulatory additions, and staff emphasized they did not add other density changes during the cleanup.

The subcommittee did not set a final effective date for any ordinance changes; next steps are planning commission review and then resubmission to the full commission for further work sessions or votes.