Board of Zoning Appeals approves Stallion variance allowing short‑term rental at 6050 S. Airline Road

The Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously to grant VAR‑25‑81, permitting the conversion of a rebuilt single‑family residence at 6050 South Airline Road to a tourist home or cabin (short‑term rental). The vote followed staff presentations, petitioner testimony and opposition from immediate neighbors.

Staff planning presentation: County planning staff reviewed the County Development Ordinance and explained that the property lies in Environmental Constraints Overlay Area 2 and does not meet the 1‑acre contiguous buildable‑area requirement. Staff said the parcel contains roughly 0.26 acres under 15 percent slope and, after required setbacks, only about 0.1 acres of usable area, and that the ordinance’s exemption for single‑family residence construction does not apply to conversions to other uses. Staff explained the variance would be required for any further development on the lot and discussed the alternate option of pursuing an administrative subdivision.

Petitioner’s case: Devlin Stallion, sworn for testimony, said he and his wife bought the five‑acre property after COVID, rebuilt a modular home after a large oak had damaged the previous structure, and sought permission to change the use to a tourist home/cabin to offset costs. “We bought it not knowing all of the regulations,” Stallion said, adding that he had meet with county staff while proceeding through the rebuild.

Neighbors’ safety concerns: Two neighbors who live on Airline Road — Shannon Robinson and Brad Erman of 6110 South Airline Road — testified in opposition. Robinson described Airline Road as a narrow, one‑lane lane with four sharp turns, two of them blind, saying unfamiliar, out‑of‑state renters may not navigate it safely. She also said the property had been advertised online as “Headless Goose Cabin” and displayed advertisements that listed capacity as six. Erman said a commercial operation in the middle of the one‑lane road “erodes our privacy and security.”

Petitioner’s rebuttal and limits: In a five‑minute rebuttal, the Stallions said earlier listings were posted before they understood local rules and that they had since met with health and highway staff. They offered a written restriction limiting rental occupancy and vehicle parking, telling the board they would restrict rentals to one car and two adults where practicable.

Board deliberation and legal basis: Members repeatedly distinguished safety and neighborhood concerns from the specific code findings the board must apply. Staff and several members said the variance request was triggered by the change of use; without the conversion the house could remain a single‑family residence. Board members noted that a full‑time family residence might generate more daily traffic than a limited short‑term rental. The board confirmed occupancy and advertising constraints in the County Development Ordinance — for example, the limit of no more than two guests per guest room — and discussed enforcement options.

Vote and conditions: The motion to approve VAR‑25‑81 passed 5–0, with recorded yes votes by Guy Lofman, Jeff Morris, Pamela Davidson, Margaret Clements and Skip Daley. Chair thanked neighbors for appearing and noted the board’s recommendations that the Stallions work with staff on visible address signage and other communications with renters to address safety concerns.

What happens next: Approval allows the petitioner to pursue the short‑term rental use subject to compliance with the County Development Ordinance standards for tourist homes/cabins and any applicable permitting (building, septic, health). The board noted that any future expansion or new development on the parcel would require additional variances or approvals.