Stephens Co. Considers Options For Man Wanting To Live In RV on Property

Stephens County officials are working with a local resident to try and resolve his living situation on his property.

Robert Robbins spoke to county commissioners at their last meeting last month regarding his property on Red Rock Road.

Robbins said he bought the property in September and moved there, not realizing the county had an ordinance that would not allow him to live in his camper on the property as he had planned.

He said he wants to do what he has to do set it up to live on the property.

“I want to comply with whatever we have to do to make it to where I have a place to live the rest of my life out,” said Robbins. “I am 66 years old. I am just kind of trying to live in peace. I have talked to the neighbors around me. They all seem to like me. I will not do anything to hinder anybody. I am not there to do that. I am just there to live out my life.”

He said that he has cleaned up the property and county officials agree.

Stephens County Commissioner Stanley London suggested a hardship variance be approved for Robbins to allow him to live on the property in the camper.

However, Commissioner Dean Scarborough said he feels the issue needs to be looked at more closely.

“Before we just go do a variance, we might want to see what the implications to the Planning Commission would be as far as other applications and situations they might have,” said Scarborough. “I am not against a variance, but I do not think we should just react on it right now without the proper study on it.”

A vote on the hardship variance failed 3-2, with Commissioners London and Debbie Whitlock voting in favor of it and Commissioners Scarborough, Michelle Ivester, and Dennis Bell voting against it.

County commissioners asked staff to look at the ordinances further to see if a variance could be worked out or if one was even needed since Robbins is living in an RV, not a stand-alone camper.