Stephens City council adopts Chapter 23 text amendment loosening some home-occupation rules and allowing towers up to 100 feet

Stephens City Town Council on Jan. 6 adopted a text amendment to Chapter 23 of the town code that changes when home occupations require a special-use permit and raises by-right tower height limits in some industrial districts.

The clerk read the ordinance title aloud, stating the amendment "changes the requirement for Home Occupations from permitted only with a Special Use Permit to an accepted by-right use for those uses that do not require additional traffic, have no noise or noxious odors to the neighborhood, no exterior signs and no additional exterior storage." The same amendment revises I-1 and I-2 Industrial District language to allow "High voltage monopole transmission/power lines structures and communication towers" by-right up to 100 feet in height.

Vice-Mayor Fravel moved to accept the third reading; the motion carried on a roll-call vote with L. Fravel, P. Fravel, Smith, Stevens and Swygert-Smith voting Aye and Woodruff absent.

Supporters said the change will permit low-impact home businesses to operate without the time and cost of a special-use permit while preserving permit review for uses that generate traffic, noise, odors, signage or exterior storage. The ordinance text read at the meeting lists those limiting conditions explicitly.

The council did not provide additional textual amendments during the meeting. The ordinance takes effect according to the town's standard code-adoption schedule unless the motion or text specifies another effective date.

Council members and staff framed the change as a balance between reducing administrative barriers for low-impact home businesses and retaining oversight for uses that could affect neighbors. The meeting record does not show subsequent appeals, legal challenges, or further conditions tied to the adoption.