Hendersonville General Committee advances updated building and maintenance codes, vacant-property registry and several municipal policies

Hendersonville’s General Committee met in March and moved forward a package of code updates, a vacant commercial-property registry and several municipal policy changes, members said.

The committee recommended adoption of the 2021 model building and fire codes and an updated property maintenance code, advanced a proposed vacant commercial- and industrial-building registration ordinance, recommended a new local prohibition and regulation of certain panhandling behaviors, approved a decorative street-sign replacement grant program, sent a proposed shopping-cart ordinance to public review with a neutral recommendation, and advanced resolutions on fire-department secondary employment, an informational briefing from the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System (TCRS) on the BRIDGE retirement program for public safety employees, and formal opposition to state legislation that would limit local land-use authority.

The most detailed discussion centered on adopting updated codes and the proposed vacant-building registry. Greg Sillery, a city staff member who presented the code changes, told the committee that the city needs to “be current within the newest published edition” and recommended the committee consider adoption of the 2021 editions of the International Fire Code and the building code series. Sillery said the property-maintenance code received the most local tailoring, including new language to speed demolition and a new appendix establishing uniform standards for boarding structures.

A local business owner who spoke during the citizens’ comment period urged the committee to adopt the vacant-building ordinance and described the economic effect of long-term vacancies, saying the measure “is a very fair ordinance” that would encourage owners to keep properties up or put them on the market. The speaker said many vacant commercial properties in parts of town are not locally owned and that long-term vacancies suppress nearby property values and deter new customers.

On the proposed vacant-commercial registration (ordinance O8), staff cited a model used in Jackson, Tennessee, which registered properties initially to encourage owner engagement rather than immediate fines. Committee members asked about timelines for owners to submit plans and noted exceptions and extended timelines for structures damaged by natural disaster. From the fire department, a speaker urged identification of vacant buildings for firefighter safety and said the department typically waits for a property owner or manager to secure or remove valuables before transferring property; he added that, in practice, owners usually secure property within about 12 hours when notified.

Mayor Jamie Cleary and other members debated a shopping-cart ordinance (O6) intended to require retailers that register carts to post signage and allow recovery of carts found on public property; Cleary said stolen carts “are probably gonna be used, in coordination for another crime.” Committee members discussed impound/fee structures, how small grocers could be affected, and whether the ordinance should delay effective date to allow outreach; the committee voted to send the measure to public review with a neutral recommendation.

On panhandling (O7), the ordinance drafted by staff defines and distinguishes aggressive and passive panhandling and identifies public-safety and privacy zones, such as medians, locations near ATMs and restaurant seating. Committee members raised First Amendment concerns and local permit practices for organized groups; after discussion the committee moved the ordinance with a positive recommendation.

The committee approved a resolution to adopt a decorative street-sign replacement grant program that would reimburse homeowners associations for some replacement costs subject to inspection and ADA-compliant standards. Members said the program is intended to preserve neighborhood aesthetics while ensuring wayfinding and accessibility.

A proposed policy to permit Hendersonville Fire Department personnel to perform secondary (after-hours) employment using some city equipment (including a utility terrain vehicle, UTV) advanced with a neutral recommendation. Staff said the policy would allow vendors to hire off‑duty personnel under contract and pay a city fee for UTV use; the committee asked for clarity on hourly rates for EMTs and on how core emergency services and overtime budgeting would be preserved.

The committee also moved a resolution asking the Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System to host an informational session on the BRIDGE retirement option for public safety employees and to provide an anonymous survey of interested employees. Several members emphasized that the briefing and survey are educational first steps and that any future adoption would require careful fiscal analysis and further public discussion.

Eddie Robertson, speaking for the committee on a resolution opposing state preemption of local land-use decisions, said the city should “fight for local zoning decisions being made by local elected officials” after noting a bill introduced in the General Assembly that would alter local zoning authority. The committee gave that resolution a positive recommendation.

Votes at a glance - Ordinances O3 (fire code), O4 (building code) and O5 (property maintenance code): positive recommendation to adopt the 2021 editions and local amendments; advanced by the committee. - Ordinance O6 (shopping-cart rules): sent to public review with a neutral recommendation. - Ordinance O7 (panhandling regulation): positive recommendation to proceed. - Ordinance O8 (vacant commercial/industrial building registration): positive recommendation to proceed. - Resolution adopting a decorative street-sign replacement grant program: positive recommendation. - Resolution establishing policy for HFD secondary employment and UTV use: neutral recommendation for further consideration and clarification. - Resolution opposing state preemption of local land-use decisions: positive recommendation. - Resolution inviting TCRS to brief public safety employees on the BRIDGE program and to conduct an anonymous survey: positive recommendation.

Committee members said next steps include public notice and hearings where required, editorial and legal refinements to ordinance text, and staff outreach to affected property owners and businesses. The measures will move to subsequent legislative review and, for ordinances, eventually to the city board for final action.