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Resident seeks more time as Soddy‑Daisy officials press campground into compliance
Summary
At the April 6 meeting the City clarified that a prior court order and local ordinance limit long‑term occupancy at the Ducktown Street campground; owner Ann Newman requested more time and staff said a one‑time 90‑day permit will be available to existing tenants while cleanup proceeds.
Ann Newman, who lives at 171 Ducktown Street, asked the Soddy‑Daisy Board of Commissioners on April 6 for more time to bring her late husband’s campground property into compliance after the city sent a notice of violation.
City Attorney Elliott told the board the property is zoned TC & M (Tourist Court and Motel District) and that a 2017 lawsuit produced a court order requiring compliance with an ordinance intended to prevent a permanent mobile‑home park. Elliott said the ordinance and the court order mean any tenant on the property longer than the ordinance’s limit is not permitted and that some current tenants had exceeded the 180‑day period cited in the discussion.
“I don’t want any trouble,” Ann Newman said, describing that she had not managed the campground before her husband’s death and needs time to act. Her son, Simon Newman (171 Ducktown Street), told the board he could stack cars under a shed and work on cleanup if more time were allowed.
City Manager Johnson said the city will allow a one‑time 90‑day permit for existing tenants and reiterated that tenants must purchase the permits at City Hall and coordinate property cleanup with Public Works Director Steve Grant. Grant told the board he is willing to work with the property owner on additional time so long as the owner is making an effort to comply. Commissioner Keith said the ordinance’s intent is to prevent permanent occupancy and that any change to the law would require a formal amendment and Commission action.
Commissioners did not amend the ordinance at the meeting. City Attorney Elliott said the Commission could consider a change only through the standard amendment process. The city’s direction at the meeting was procedural: allow the one‑time 90‑day permits to existing tenants, require owner engagement with Public Works on cleanup, and refer ordinance revision to the Commission for separate consideration if members choose to pursue it.
Next steps: Mrs. Newman was instructed to have each tenant come to City Hall to obtain the temporary permit and to contact Public Works Director Steve Grant to discuss the cleanup timeline. The Commission did not set a date to revisit the ordinance.
