Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-04-08-150 — Jim Kelly

Request: Special Exception in C-1 (retail commercial) zone to allow recreational vehicle as night watchman's quarters (currently in violation) in conjunction with the Smokee Tavern.

Decision: Denied

Hearing: The applicant owns a bar (Smokee Tavern). He was cited by Code Enforcement for parking his RV there with his manager living in it. He filed the special exception request as a security mechanism (night watchman quarters) in an attempt to resolve the violation. The applicant told the BZA he needs security there after the bar has closed because he has had a lot of break-ins and trespassers. However, the official records of the Sheriff's Office of calls to the property showed otherwise. The applicant admitted the presence of the RV on-site has not been able to stop all incidences after-hours. He also admitted that this is his own personal RV that he takes off the property for personal use. A neighboring property owner spoke in opposition. The BZA felt the applicant could not justify a bonafide need and that there are other methods he could employ to secure the premises. The BZA denied the request and gave the applicant 30 days to remove the RV.