Planning commission recommends approval of tourist home at 1024 Penamon Road despite staff objection

The York County Planning Committee on March 12 voted to recommend approval of a tourist‑home special‑use permit for 1024 Penamon Road, forwarding resolution PC25‑07 to the Board of Supervisors despite staff’s recommendation of denial.

Staff described the property as a three‑bedroom whole‑house rental (maximum six guests) that meets the zoning ordinance’s technical requirements, including parking and the 750‑foot separation guideline between tourist homes in R‑13/RMF zones. Staff emphasized the application does not meet a Board policy guideline that suggests property owners should live on‑site or adjacent to the tourist home; the owner, Landon Haywood, lives out of state. Because the owner does not reside locally, staff recommended denial, noting the Board’s policy seeks to discourage absentee‑owned short‑term rentals.

Brian Randall, the applicant’s designated property manager, told the commission he lives “about 10 minutes from the property” and manages other tourist homes; Randall said he would serve as the local manager. Barbara Haywood, the applicant’s parent who lives about 2.3 miles away, told the commission the family wants to keep the house in the family and that she and others would help manage the property.

Several commissioners said the owner’s family and designated local management reduced their concerns. One commissioner said he was “inclined to support” approval after hearing the management plan; another noted the property “meets all of the requirements” in the ordinance and moved that the commission adopt PC25‑07. The roll call recorded Mister Chamberlain — No; all other commissioners present — Yes. The motion passed and the commission will forward its recommendation of approval to the Board of Supervisors for final action.