Normally Board of Zoning Appeals is less than interesting. Not on Wednesday. Kyle Ward a Knox County Commissioner serving the Fourth District through August 31, 2024 (he has announced he will not seek reelection next year) had a variance request on a piece of property in Knox County’s Third District.

Ward desires to build a home for sale, it will not be his residence. There were two property owners on the small street that spoke in opposition also the Harrison Springs HOA Treasurer spoke in opposition.

The motion to grant the variance was made by Garrett Holt, the Fourth District BZA member. Holt is the appointee of Ward’s. Holt is an announced 2024 candidate for the Fourth District Knox County Commission seat, that Ward currently serves.

Ninth District BZA member Huff made a motion to defer until September. Huff saying it would allow Ward to prepare a more specific site plan and meet with the community. The deferral passed, so September 2023 BZA meeting will continue the discussion.

One of the neighbors said an ethics complaint had been filed, because the quit claim deed says the property was sold to Ward for $10.

In other business the last item on the agenda was a tad lengthy one. It was a reconsideration on a AT&T cellphone tower in Hardin Valley, on Sam Lee Road. The BZA ultimately voted to reconsider and to deny the COA and building permit, because the application had false information. Here is a video of the BZA meeting on the Knoxville Community Media website.