HAMBLEN COUNTY, Tenn. — Around 45 families in Hamblen County who live in campers on private property are facing uncertainty and confusion. The Hamblen County Office of Zoning and Planning issued a letter saying they must move their campers to an RV campground, make substantial progress on a home being built or face condemnation and removal of their shelter.
Rhonda Morgan has been living in her camper for three years. Her house burned down in 2017 and the RV is her second kind of shelter since then.
“I found this camper, and I called up there and I asked if I needed to purchase a permit, or what I needed to do to put the camper on my property. And, I was told there was no permit to purchase, was nothing I had to purchase. I could put the camper here and that they were trying to pass a law, but they had not done it yet,” said Morgan.
Hamblen County leaders said she must now remove her camper. In March, the Office of Zoning and Planning gave those who received a letter 90 days to move their campers. Just before the deadline, the Zoning and Planning Committee passed an extension to mid-September, giving residents more time to move.
Morgan does not believe it is enough time.
“I’m going to be able to buy me a mobile home and put it on my property, but I can’t do it in 90 days,” said Morgan.
Residents who fail to comply and don’t move their campers will have their cases forwarded to the county attorney, who will seek a court order to condemn and remove the camper from their property, according to the letter.
WBIR reached out to each member of the Hamblen County Commission for this story. Only Chris Cutshaw, the chairman of the commission, replied. His full statement is available below.
“In Hamblen County, we have zoning regulations which were first adopted in 1990. Within this zoning resolution, the purpose is to protect the health and safety of ALL county residents and their properties by providing a tool to ensure safe and orderly growth. Hamblen County zoning regulations do not allow RVs and campers as a permitted use for a residence. The Planning Board also determined, due to the adopted regulations, that this type of structure could not be allowed as a residence.
“This enforcement has begun once again, alerting violations by the letter being sent. Of these 45 locations, several of these are in deplorable and unsafe conditions. Conditions that could in fact give cause for condemnation if it were a permitted home. Some of the conditions include electric being served by unapproved electric cords, no water, no septic or active septic area on top of the ground, and boarded windows among other basic needs of property maintenance. These conditions can very well be deemed unsafe for its inhabitants and also affect the surrounding residents.”
Morgan received two letters. Both said she needed to move her camper. WBIR visited her camper after she received the letters.
It is connected to a septic system which was recently serviced and does not have any active septic area on top of the ground. She also has proper water lines connected to the camper, ensuring she has a water source. The camper is also connected to electrical services, with boxes that the county’s utility provider set up. It also has fire exit windows that are not boarded.
Former Hamblen County resident Wendy Ellis organized an online petition as well as protests about the county demanding people remove their campers. The petition has gathered around 800 signatures so far, online and on paper, and she believes that the commission and the Office of Zoning and Planning are giving residents the runaround.
“One says one thing, says you can have campers on your land as long as they are hooked up to utilities, septic, and stuff,” said Ellis.
She also believes that people who have received a letter, but have all residential necessities hooked up properly, will choose to remain in a camper regardless of the committee’s decision.
“The people that live in their campers says that they are not leaving,” said Ellis. “That the only way they’ll leave is in a body bag.”
This statement is true for Rhonda Morgan, who said she will not leave.
“I’m not going to [move]. I own my land and my son owns this camper and I’m not going nowhere,” she said.
The extension is expected to expire in mid-September.