Clarksville Board of Zoning Appeals Meeting – August 27, 2025

The Clarksville Board of Zoning Appeals held a regular session on August 27, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. in the Clarksville Administration Building. The board considered four variance requests: two for corner lot fences, one for a used car dealership, and one for an ambulance service. All items were approved with varying conditions.

Call to Order & Approval of Minutes

• The meeting was called to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.
• The board approved the minutes of the July 23, 2025, regular session (despite noting the minutes were not immediately available).

Old Business

• No old business was discussed.

New Business

V-25-0002: Variance for Corner Lot Fence, 8511 Plum Run

• Applicant Anastasia Manaugh requested a variance for a six-foot wood privacy fence that extends past the facade line on a corner lot. The fence, already installed in a previous location, encloses a pool and provides a safe play area for children.
• The fence is located 90 feet from the intersection and does not extend into easements.
• The board unanimously approved the variance with no conditions.

V-25-0004: Corner Lot Fence, 2901 Victory Court

• Applicant Noah Day requested a variance to enclose an area west of his house for his dogs. Without the variance, only about 500 square feet of the yard could be fenced; the variance would allow approximately 3,500 square feet.
• The fence is 41 feet from the intersection and does not extend past the front facade.
• The board unanimously approved the variance with two conditions: (1) the fence shall not extend beyond the proposed plan; (2) the applicant must complete a fence waiver if the fence is placed in an easement.

V-25-0005: Use Variance for Used Car Dealership, 1575 Progress Way

• Applicants Evan Cunliffe and Marjon (last name not provided) requested a use variance to operate a used car dealership (primarily diesel trucks) in an I‑1 industrial zone. The site is currently vacant; the applicants operate an existing business nearby that has become congested and unsafe due to crossing traffic on Providence Way.
• The variance would allow sales and light repair (e.g., oil changes) but not major body work. Staff noted the need for a hard dustless surface for parking inventory and repair vehicles.
• The board approved the variance with two conditions: (1) the variance runs with the business (if the business moves, the variance does not transfer); (2) the applicants must provide a hard dustless surface for all stored inventory. The board found that elements A, B, and E of the variance criteria were met, and that elements C and D were satisfied because the ordinance distinction between industrial vehicle sales and passenger vehicle sales is unnecessarily restrictive and not allowing the use would create economic hardship.

V-2025-0007: Use Variance for Heartland Ambulance, 836 Eastern Blvd

• Tammy Gibson, Economic Development Director, presented on behalf of Heartland Ambulance. The applicant requested a use variance to operate an ambulance service in a live-work unit within the Gateway Crossing PUD. Ambulance services are not explicitly permitted in the PUD, though they are allowed in adjacent B‑2 zones.
• The operation is already in place; the variance is needed to formalize the use and parking arrangements (up to 15 ambulance parking spaces on adjacent town property, approved by the Redevelopment Commission).
• Board members noted the community benefit of having EMS nearby, citing quick response in a recent emergency at a church.
• The board approved the variance with one condition: the use variance applies only to the current applicant and operation (it does not transfer to any other ambulance service or location). The board found elements A, B, D, and E were met, and differed from staff on element C, determining that strict application of the ordinance would create a practical difficulty because the ordinance is silent on EMS services, effectively creating an oversight.

Public Comments

• No public comments were made.

Adjournment

• The meeting was adjourned by motion.