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Board denies plan amendment to legitimize transient RV site after neighborhood outcry and code enforcement
Summary
The board denied Hunter Brewster’s appeal seeking a plan amendment and rezoning to allow transient RV lodging on his South Knoxville parcel after neighbors, planning staff and a police officer raised safety, code and character concerns; planning commission had recommended denial 13–0.
The Knox County Board of Zoning on Jan. 22 denied a request by property owner Hunter Brewster to change his parcel’s place type and rezone it to permit transient RV lodging for pipeline crews.
Background and request: Brewster had allowed transient workers for a nearby pipeline contractor to park camp trailers on his roughly 3.56‑acre parcel near John Sevier Highway. Codes enforcement previously instructed the property to cease the unpermitted campground activity; Brewster then filed for a plan amendment and rezoning to make the use lawful. Planning staff and the Metropolitan Planning Commission recommended denial of a corridor commercial place-type amendment and related rezoning, and the MPC voted 13–0 to deny.
Public opposition and enforcement issues: Several neighbors and community representatives told the board they had complained to codes and had seen heavy grading, site preparation and the presence of two dozen trailers on the parcel. Resident Steve Kaufman and others said the site already resembles a storage lot rather than a temporary staging area and expressed concern about traffic and long-term uses if the property were rezoned. Codes records read into the record show a prior cease-and-desist order was issued on Sept. 5, 2024. Officer Kaufman of the Knox Police Department told commissioners that transient encampments can generate crime and community safety concerns when not managed as conventional lodging.
Applicant’s position: Brewster told the board the arrangement was intended to be temporary while pipeline work continued and said he did not intend to sell or permanently industrialize the property. Attorney Ben Mullins recommended the board consider sending the request back to the planning commission to evaluate a transition zone that would allow carefully limited temporary uses and require a development plan review.
Outcome: Commissioners ultimately voted to deny the plan amendment and the appeal. A motion to deny was adopted (motion by Commissioner Jackson, second by Commissioner Lee) and the board rejected the plan amendment; planning commission denial was upheld.
Why it matters: The case highlights tensions when landowners host transient work crews on residential or agricultural parcels. Commissioners emphasized that temporary operational needs generally should not drive permanent changes to place types and zoning, and that enforcement and planning channels exist to regulate temporary lodging.
Sources: Testimony and codes/enforcement references provided at the Jan. 22, 2025 Board of Zoning meeting.
