The Loudon County Board of Zoning Appeals denied a request from Brian Thompson to operate an automotive repair business on property zoned A-2 (rural residential).

Thompson told the board he purchased the property about a year ago and had been misled by a realtor about permissible uses. He said he currently operates a busy shop in Maryville and hopes to relocate or operate a part-time shop on his A-2 parcel; he also said he has a contingent plan to rezone a separate parcel on Highway 95 South to C-2 commercial zoning and sell the current lot if rezoning occurs.

Planning staff and board members noted that automotive repair is not an allowable use in the A-2 district as an exception. After discussion, a board member moved and seconded a motion to deny the variance; the chair called for the vote and the motion to deny carried. The board encouraged the applicant to pursue rezoning of a commercially zoned parcel nearby (the applicant referenced a separate property he has under contract on Highway 95 South) rather than operate the business as an unauthorized use in the A-2 district.

The applicant said he understood the constraints and indicated plans to pursue rezoning of another parcel where C-2 commercial zoning could allow his business. The board recorded the denial and did not attach conditions to permit automotive repair at the A-2 site.