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Wilson County Board of Zoning Appeals approves several variances, renews short-term rental; denies two requests
Summary
At an April meeting, the Wilson County Board of Zoning Appeals granted variances for multiple properties, approved a three-year renewal for a short-term rental, and denied a home-height variance and carport/setback requests. Several approvals were conditioned on staff recommendations and recorded plats.
The Wilson County Board of Zoning Appeals on its April agenda approved most staff-recommended variances, renewed a short-term rental permit and denied two variance requests after hearing public testimony.
The board approved Case 4390, a variance to allow an existing accessory structure to remain 2 feet from the west property line while permitting a proposed pool to meet setback requirements. Applicant Tracy Goodman told the board the structure evolved over many years and said neighbors were willing to sign support; staff had recommended denial but the board voted to approve the variance.
The board denied Case 4391, a request from Mark Brown Construction for a 3-foot height variance from the 35-foot limit for a single-family home at 4192 Murphersboro Road. Mark Brown said he could redesign roof pitches or lower interior ceiling heights; staff recommended denial and the board agreed.
In Case 4392 the board renewed a short-term rental permit for the property at 7255 Lebanon Road. Applicant Angelina Tuning said the rental helps pay property bills, that she changed the caretaker to a neighbor within 10 miles, and that no complaints have been filed. The board approved a three-year renewal timed to run from the original May 15 approval date and kept prior conditions in place, including a 10-guest maximum and business plan on file.
Case 4393, a multi-variance request for a property in Riverside Development (including reduced front- and rear-yard setbacks and a reduced separation between structures), was approved based on staff recommendations because the lot predates the zoning ordinance. Commissioner Chad Bernard, who visited the site, recommended approval.
Case 4394 involved a property where the previous house burned in November. The applicant seeks variances to rebuild within roughly the former footprint. Josh White of ASM Land Surveyors said a recombination/consolidation plat has been submitted to the planning office; neighbor Loren Whitby urged approval and described community aid after the fire. The board approved variances for the rebuild tied to the consolidation plat and staff recommendation.
The board denied Case 4395, an applicant-requested set of variances related to existing carports and an auxiliary dwelling unit. Applicant Jason Cloak said structures predated his 2023 purchase and that neighbors support leaving them in place, but staff could not recommend approval and the board found the requested variances excessive and relocatable, voting to deny.
In Case 4396, applicant Landon Chbin requested permission for two dwellings on one tract and a 25-foot front-yard setback variance to house family members. Staff advised denial because two dwellings are not permitted in R1 zoning and the lot lacks required road frontage; the board voted to deny the request.
Votes at a glance - Case 4390 (accessory structure/setback): motion to approve; outcome: approved (per board vote). - Case 4391 (height variance — Mark Brown Construction): motion to deny; outcome: denied (per staff recommendation). - Case 4392 (short-term rental renewal — 7255 Lebanon Road): motion to approve (three-year renewal effective from prior approval date); outcome: approved. - Case 4393 (multiple setbacks — Casey Preston): motion to approve (staff recommendation); outcome: approved. - Case 4394 (rebuild after house fire — Michelle Bond property): motion to approve (staff recommendation; tied to consolidation plat); outcome: approved. - Case 4395 (carports/auxiliary dwelling — Jason Cloak): motion to deny; outcome: denied. - Case 4396 (two dwellings on one tract / front-yard setback — Landon Chbin): motion to deny; outcome: denied.
Why it matters: The board’s decisions affect property configurations, rebuild rights after a destructive fire, and the limits on short-term rentals and residential construction in R1 zones. Several approvals relied on the age of a lot of record or on submission of a consolidation plat; denials emphasized zoning limits and the expectation that relocatable options should be explored.
The board also scheduled a public work session after the June meeting to review bylaws and board procedures.
