Owners of backyard amusement park lose request for appeal

ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - The owners of a property on Williamson Road requested an appeal after being cited by Roanoke City Code Enforcement officers for the collection of amusement park rides in their back yard. On Wednesday, that request for an appeal hearing was denied. 

Neighbors initially reported the homeowners had a collection of antique amusement park rides in their back yard.

Michael Atkins and Daryl Thompson said their goal was to repair the devices and provide rides to kids who can't afford to go to bigger amusement parks. But under the city's codes, the rides fall under the definition of a "Commercial Motor Vehicle," and cannot be parked in residential zoning districts for more than 2 hours. 

On Wednesday, the Roanoke City Board of Zoning Appeals held a public meeting to discuss whether the property owners' appeal in the case would be allowed before the Board of Zoning. Their request was denied. 

A statement from the legal counsel of the ride owners. issued the day before the hearing reads, "Michael Atkins and Daryl Thompson believe they are in compliance with Roanoke City zoning ordinance and look forward to their appeal heard by the board of zoning."

Meanwhile, residents like Cheyenne Ferguson, who have lived on Huntington Blvd near Williamson Road since the 1960s, said she's watched the neighborhood change over the years. But she never imagined seeing carousels and other rides next door.

"I couldn't believe what I was seeing" she said.

Ferguson's new neighbors moved in last year and brought with them their collection of antique items such as unique amusement park rides. 

Officials said if the board had agreed to the appeal, local leaders would go back to the drawing board to define the rides and determine whether or not they belong in a single-family neighborhood. Now zoning officials will have to decide whether they will enforce the current code.