Planner outlines zoning rewrite that adds agricultural residential district and short-term rental rules

Jeffrey Gilbo of the Appalachian Council presented a broad, committee-level overview of proposed changes to Walhalla's zoning ordinance, emphasizing clarity, updated definitions and more flexible development tools. Gilbo said the rewrite adds a new residential agricultural district to accommodate farm- and roadside-produce uses, divides the multifamily district to allow lower-density options, and reduces the maximum height in the office-commercial district from four stories to 2.5 "because it's a very neighborhood centric district." He also said the draft includes a new flexible review district (FRD) to permit locally tailored projects and a set of landscaping and parking standards meant to protect single-family neighbors.

The draft would also add a short-term rental standards section and clarify sign regulations, such as limiting political signs on city property and public rights-of-way. Gilbo flagged that some items (for example, uses already covered by other ordinance language) were left unchanged and that legal questions—particularly those touching free-speech or constitutional issues—should be vetted by the city attorney. Committee members asked clarifying questions about conditional uses (including tattoo parlors in a limited industrial context), off-premise advertising restrictions, and whether the new rules would allow or restrict certain businesses on Main Street. No vote was taken; the item will move to council readings with changes to be made before first or second reading as requested by the committee.