Wilson County Zoning Board of Appeals approves most variances, denies several after split votes

The Wilson County Board of Zoning Appeals met June 18, 2026, in the County Commission Room of the Wilson County Courthouse in Lebanon and decided on a slate of variances and an overnight construction-hours exception affecting multiple property owners, according to board minutes.

Chairman Rusty Thompson called the meeting to order, administered the oath to witnesses and explained public-comment procedures. The board approved the May 21, 2026 minutes before hearing individual cases.

The board approved most requests on the docket. Case 4403 (applicant Scott Baldridge) — variances for spacing between accessory structures to allow a proposed pool — was approved on a motion by board member Sonja Robinson and seconded by Vice Chairman Perry Neal; the vote was unanimous. Case 4406 (applicant Mike Paiz), seeking a 4-foot south side-yard variance for an existing shed, was approved by motion of Chairman Rusty Thompson with the condition that the lots be combined by plat; the vote was unanimous. Case 4409 (K and A Land Surveyors representing Kolby Greer) — a 5-foot rear-yard variance and a 38,347-square-foot lot-size variance — was approved on a motion by Vice Chairman Perry Neal and seconded by Kerry Crockett, unanimously.

Some requests were denied. Case 4408 (applicant Casey Hopkins), which sought a front-yard variance and relief to allow an oversized home-occupation structure for refrigeration-equipment storage, was denied based on staff recommendations; the motion to deny by Sonja Robinson, seconded by Howard Blaydes, carried unanimously. Case 4410 (Daniel Buterbaugh on behalf of Virginia Laudeman) requested a 9-foot variance from a north-side setback for an accessory structure and was denied unanimously after discussion.

A contested denials occurred in Case 4404 (William Ziech on behalf of Jennifer Smith), which sought a 19,632-square-foot variance from the 80,000-square-foot minimum lot size to reallocate roughly 7,074 square feet between lots. Supporters and the applicant spoke in favor, and Board member Kerry Crockett moved to approve conditional on a re-submitted plat; Vice Chairman Perry Neal seconded and an amendment was accepted. The motion failed on a 3-2 vote, with Chairman Rusty Thompson, Secretary Howard Blaydes and Sonja Robinson voting no; the request was denied.

Case 4407 (Dennis and Rebecca Adams) requested a 5-foot east side-yard variance for an accessory structure. The Board approved the variance on a 3-2 vote (yeas: Kerry Crockett, Perry Neal and Howard Blaydes; nays: Rusty Thompson and Sonja Robinson). Case 4405 (applicant Robert Davis) was withdrawn by the applicant and not considered.

The Board granted a temporary exception to construction-hours rules in Case 4411 for applicant Jamie Milam, allowing overnight construction for up to 60 days beginning June 18, 2026; the motion by Vice Chairman Perry Neal, seconded by Kerry Crockett, passed unanimously. The applicant had requested 8–9 nights (not necessarily consecutive) and submitted a notarized letter from an adjoining property owner in support.

All formal motions and vote outcomes were recorded in the minutes. With no further business, the Board adjourned.

Votes at a glance: Case 4403 — approved (unanimous); Case 4404 — denied (3–2); Case 4405 — withdrawn; Case 4406 — approved (unanimous, plat combination required); Case 4407 — approved (3–2); Case 4408 — denied (unanimous); Case 4409 — approved (unanimous); Case 4410 — denied (unanimous); Case 4411 — approved (unanimous, 60-day limit starting June 18, 2026).

The Board’s next procedural step was to adjourn; no further hearings were scheduled in the minutes.