Lawrenceburg board approves variance for single Airstream short-term rental at 62 Dowdy Road

The Lawrenceburg Board of Zoning Appeals approved a variance on July 22, 2026, permitting a single vintage Airstream travel trailer to be used as a short-term rental at 62 Dowdy Road, subject to conditions the board added before its vote. The decision passed 3–1 with one member absent.

The applicant, Steve Caddill, who identified himself as owner/operator of 4 Speed on 50, told the board he plans to position the trailer behind his mini-golf attraction and make it available for short stays “maybe a weekend, I don’t know, maybe a week.” He described the unit as a vintage Airstream intended to be an aesthetic amenity and a draw for visitors to nearby attractions.

Board members and staff focused on how the unit would be serviced and whether the approval would set a precedent. The applicant said the trailer would run on a nearby 120-volt plug, include a composting toilet inside the unit, and that guests would have access to a full bathroom at the on-site gas station (a key would be provided for guests). One staff member explained that, under current zoning code, “any more than one becomes defined as a trailer park,” which the code prohibits, making this a limited, site-specific variance request.

During discussion a committee member raised fairness and precedent concerns, urging that each variance be judged on its own facts: “I always wanted to be fair and consistent tremendously,” the committee member said, emphasizing that subsequent applicants should present comparably attractive installations. The board also discussed visibility and landscaping; the applicant said he planned landscaping to integrate the unit with existing site features.

Before voting, the board asked for the findings of fact to be read into the record and for several conditions to be attached. The conditions the board included were: (1) the use is limited to short-term rentals of no longer than two weeks per stay; (2) the unit must be the Airstream pictured in the application; and (3) the property must remain owned and operated by Steve Caddill (4 Speed on 50). With those conditions attached, the motion to approve the variance (application 20260067) passed by a roll-call tally reported as three yes, one no (Bill Snyder) and one absent (Rudy Ramey).

The clerk read the findings of fact into the record, noting the board’s rationale that the unit, as presented and conditioned, would not be injurious to public health, safety or welfare, and would not substantially interfere with the city’s comprehensive plan. The variance was recorded with the hearing date of 07/22/2026 and the application/parcel identifiers noted in the record. The board then moved on to other business and adjourned.

The approval allows the applicant to place and rent a single vintage Airstream at the listed site under the board’s conditions; the decision does not change the underlying zoning code or authorize additional trailers on the property. Any future proposals for additional units would require separate review and a new variance application.