Unbeknownst to many, in January 2013 a new zoning ordinance voted on by the Williamson County Commissioners mandating that short-term vacation rental homes are only allowed in Leiper’s Fork became law. Passed by the County Commission in 2012, Section 11.1.1 greatly alters citizens ability to use property as short-term rentals in unincorporated Williamson County.
Everett Lang owns property used for short-term rentals on Douglass Glen Lane in Franklin. He was shocked to receive a cease and desist letter on July 16, 2015 from the Codes Department of Williamson County. Lang reached out to long-time friend and attorney, Bud Carman questioning the validity of such an order.
You can read the letter sent to Lang below:
Carman then looked up in the Williamson County Table of Usage and found Section 11.1.1. In the case of Lang, because he had started his business prior to 2012 he was grandfathered in to continue using his property in this manner. A letter was sent to him stating his property is a “Non-conforming Vacation Rental Home.”
Barb Sturgeon, Williamson County Commissioner District 8 gave comment: “The zoning ordinance revisions of 2013 appear to have inadvertently taken away home owners right to use their properties for short-term rentals in unincorporated Williamson County while preferentially allowing this use in the Leiper’s Fork area. Many property owners rely on short-term rental as a valuable supplement to their income.”
Williamson Source reached out to several other County Commissioners and the County Mayor’s office however at the time of publication only Sturgeon and Paul Webb communicated with us.
Paul Webb who represents District 6 returned our phone call however could not comment on the vote as he was not a member of the County Commission at that time. Webb did add, “In my district we are under the City of Brentwood and primarily residential. My community has taken action to prevent homeowners from renting out their house for commercial use.”
Webb said Carman reached out to him, and he explained to Carman that his district is totally in Brentwood, it was a non issue. He did go on to say that “If his fellow Commissioners felt a need to evaluate the ordinance and look at the more rural areas of the county, he would listen to conversations about the issue.”
Carman suggests that the Planning Commission and County Commissioners need to re-visit this decision as “We did not make anybody look good. We didn’t debate short-term rental properties in unincorporated areas with eyes wide open. Why would it not be a logical decision to hold a public discussion about the issue?”
“Getting on the agenda at the Planning Commission level for the citizens to be heard. Allegedly this ordinance was passed in the way it was ‘by accident’ – however, it is being enforced and the conversation needs to be held,” he continued.
Beyond the fact that the ordinance was put into law without discussion, short-term rental property ownership is an issue with tourism in Williamson County increasing because of popular events like CMA Fest and the Pilgrimage Music Festival.
[poll id=”48″]
[poll id=”49″]
