Rocky Top council OKs tiny homes in residential zones
Rocky Top City Manager Mike Ellis, left, watches as the City Council discusses an ordinance that would allow “tiny homes” in the city’s residential zones, during last Thursday’s council meeting. (photo:G. Chambers Williams III )
By a unanimous vote, Ordinance 595 was passed to define a tiny home as “A preassembled, permanent residential dwelling, which is less than 400 square feet in area, excluding lofts.”
Additionally, the ordinance states that “A tiny home shall be built off site on a chassis and/or installed on a permanent foundation,” and “shall be inspected through the {State Fire Marshal’s Office] Modular Building Program regardless of where constructed or delivered in Tennessee.”
The ordinance also specifies that “Tiny homes may be located within the R-1 and R-2 Residential Zone[s] upon approval by the Board of Zoning Appeals as a Special Exception and shall have a permanently affixed Tennessee Modular Building label to reflect compliance with adopted statewide building and electrical codes.”
Ordinance 596 was approved to permit tiny homes as a “special exception” in the R-1 and R-2 residential zones.
Both measures still must be approved on second and final readings, which are scheduled to take place during the November council meeting.
These changes were requested by Clinton real estate developer Jason Deel, who has been investing in Rocky Top residential and business properties.
He operates the Coal Creek General Store and three short-term residential rental properties in the downtown area, and has told the city he intends to build some tiny homes.
On second and final reading Thursday night, the City Council voted 5-0 to pass Ordinance 592, amending the city’s short-term residential rentals ordinance to require an annual fire safety inspection on every individual housing unit that is made available for rentals of less than 30 days.
The previous ordinance required annual fire inspections on just the overall property, but not specifically on each individual rental unit.
Also during Thursday’s meeting:
• The council passed unanimously on second and final reading Ordinance 593, which would set a policy for disposal of unclaimed personal property that comes into possession of the city.
The measure defines unclaimed property as “all personal property such as bicycles, vehicles, electronics, jewelry, phones, clothing, furniture, appliances and other items that come to be in the possession of the city through abandonment or other means.”
Not included are “cash, checks, bank accounts, pension funds, stocks, bonds or other such items which are reported to the State Treasurer pursuant to the Uniform Unclaimed Property Act; city surplus property; any weapon, including but not limited to firearms or knives; or property that is seized and/or forfeited through law enforcement action.”
The ordinance directs that “All unclaimed personal property which comes into the possession of any department of the city shall, if it remains unclaimed for a period of 60 days, be delivered to the purchasing agent to be disposed of” by various forms of auction.
• City Manager Mike Ellis reported that water-loss insurance for Rocky Top water customers would go into effect starting Feb. 1 for $2.35 a month added to each customer’s water/sewer bill.
Customers can opt out of the coverage if they choose.
The insurance would cover up to $2,500 of water lost through a leak, with no more than two claims a year allowed.