Stephens County woman granted variance to temporarily live in camper

The Stephens County Board of Commissioners were recently split in deciding to grant a variance request allowing a woman to temporarily live in a camper.

During the last week’s board meeting, Lisa Canup came before the commissioners to ask for the variance request.

She says she needs to take up residency in the camper while her home is being renovated.

“He (Canup’s husband) comes home on the weekend; but he was in the process of fixing the house and taking the floor up and putting another floor down and linoleum down. That’s what we were planning on doing,” Canup said.

Canup told the Commissioners that she has been living in the camper since August 2017.

Commissioner Debbie Whitlock asked if 6-months would be enough time for Canup to complete the renovations and move back into her home.

“So the camper has been there for a while,” Whitlock asked?

“Yes, ma’am,” Canup said.

“Do you know if you’ll even have the house ready in 6-months,” Whitlock asked?

However, Canup could not give a definite answer.

After further discussion, it was discovered that Canup’s neighbors had made several complaints in the past regarding the 20 dogs on her property.

Vice Chair Dean Scarborough asked if the camper had been permitted a hooked up to proper septic, which Canup said it had been.

Following the discussion, Whitlock made a motion to approve the variance request for Canup to live in her camper while her home is being renovated for up to 6-months.

Commissioner Stanley London seconded the motion; with Commissioner Dennis Bell voting in favor of the motion.

Both Ivester and Scarborough voted against the motion.

The variance requested was granted with a final vote of 3-2.