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Hearing on Crystal Smith property: commissioners extend unsafe-structure timeline, explain zoning relief needed
Summary
During a public hearing, Crystal Smith described living in an RV on a 0.59-acre parcel and said septic and cleanup work had been done; the board extended the unsafe-structure timeline 30 days for reinspection and advised Smith to pursue zoning variances or a special exception for long-term residency.
The Warren County commissioners held a public hearing on an unsafe-structure notice for Crystal Smith on April 6. Smith (S2) told the board she has lived in an RV on the 0.59-acre property and has been caring for a special-needs granddaughter. “I started this process in 2016,” Smith said, describing prior communications with county staff, cleanup work she has completed, and steps taken on septic and gray-water systems.
County staff and commissioners explained legal and zoning constraints. A commissioner (S4) noted the property is partly in the floodplain and told Smith, “Your RV does not qualify for residence,” citing minimum residence-size requirements and floodplain rules. Commissioners and staff explained that because Smith restarted RV use recently, the continuous-use grandfathering that might have applied to older uses would not apply; Smith was told that a variance for acreage and a special exception for residence size would need to be requested through county zoning processes (APC and BZA) before long-term residency could be authorized.
To allow time for cleanup and for staff to complete a follow-up inspection, the board extended the unsafe-structure enforcement timeline for 30 days and scheduled a reinspection/checkpoint for May 18. The board directed staff to obtain Robert’s report and photos and to reinspect to confirm trash removal and septic-related items. Commissioners emphasized they lacked authority to grant zoning relief at the meeting but described the variance/special-exception process Smith would need to pursue.
What’s next: staff will reinspect the property and report back; Smith was advised to apply for variance and special-exception relief through the county zoning process if she wants to pursue long-term residency.
