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Wilson County BZA approves multiple variances and permit extensions, denies one short-term rental renewal
Summary
At its March meeting the Wilson County Board of Zoning Appeals approved variances and building-permit extensions across a range of cases, granted two short-term rental renewals with conditions, renewed another for one year, and denied a renewal where the owner knowingly let the prior approval lapse.
The Wilson County Board of Zoning Appeals approved a slate of variances, building-permit extensions and short-term rental permits at its March meeting, while denying one renewal that had expired after the owner chose not to reapply.
The board granted a two-year extension for Case 4379, an extension request from applicant Lois Keith Neal after a 2020 house fire and ongoing litigation with a builder. Staff noted an initial permit was issued on Sept. 29, 2023, and a six-month staff extension would expire March 29, 2026. Neal told the board the foundation, water and sewer work are complete but a lawsuit is delaying construction; the board approved the two-year extension on a motion citing the ongoing litigation.
The board also approved multiple variances for Case 4380 (Armstrong Construction/McCall) to address setbacks and lot-size issues on a substandard lot created in 1955; staff recommended approval and the applicant said the work replaces an existing deck in the same footprint. For Case 4381, the board granted a one-year extension to Ashley Jordan, who said she began the build herself and later hired contractors.
On accessory-structure and lot issues the board approved Case 4385 (The Barn Store/Tracy Head), a consolidation of six substandard lots and related variances, conditioned on removal of two structures before a zoning compliance letter is issued. The board approved a four-foot front-yard variance for Case 4386 (applicant Jay Scray) to bring an existing house into compliance, and granted a lot-size variance in Case 4387 (Penny Benton) to create road frontage and convert two parcels into legal lots. Case 4388 (Curry surveying for Jay White) received approval for an additional rear-yard variance to extend a deck toward Corps of Engineers property.
On short-term rentals: Case 4382 (applicant Danielle Juarez) was approved for an initial one-year short-term rental permit with conditions: the business plan must be part of the approval, contact information must be provided to WEMA, the zoning office and the sheriff's office, and occupancy is limited to six (two per bedroom) pending a septic expansion. Case 4389 (Oakwood Hideaway) was renewed for one year with the same standard stipulations.
The board denied Case 4384 (Southern Land Ventures), a renewal request for a property that previously operated as a short-term rental. Staff noted the property's prior use variance had expired and the lot no longer meets a two-acre minimum adopted in December 2024; several board members emphasized the owner consciously chose not to renew before expiration and the board followed staff recommendation to deny.
All motions were approved or denied by voice vote; where individual roll-call votes were not recorded in the transcript, the minutes reflect voice tallies only. The board closed the meeting after staff announced a BZA training session scheduled for April 7.
