Planning board approves hot‑air balloon operation in Washington County

The Washington County Planning Board voted Sept. 25 to approve a conditional use permit for Silver Lining Ballooning to operate hot‑air balloon flights and build a maintenance shop and office on a 4.06‑acre parcel.

The applicant, Joseph (Joe) Kenerson of Prairie Grove, told the board the project would use approximately 0.25 acres for a 30‑by‑50 pole‑barn maintenance building, a 10‑by‑30 covered porch, gravel parking for three to four vehicles and a 200‑by‑200 operations area left as undisturbed land for balloon inflation and tethering. Planning staff reported seven adjacent notifications and no formal complaints.

Operations and safety: Kenerson said typical flights would occur two to four times per week, mostly at sunrise, with occasional evening tethered events for community gatherings. He said flights are weather dependent, his crew follows landowner relations closely, and he carries liability insurance that covers passengers, crew and adjacent landowners for incidents related to landings. He said the crew avoids fields with livestock and seeks permission before landing on private property; he also said landowners may designate properties as no‑landing zones and the company will respect those requests.

Board action: A board member moved and the planning board voted to approve the CUP as presented. There were no conditions added and no public opposition recorded during the hearing.

Context: Planning staff described the operation as occupying a modest portion of the parcel and noted hours would be sunrise to three hours after sunrise or three hours before sunset to just after sunset, weather permitting. The operation would have two employees on site during flights.

Ending: The CUP approval allows the applicant to proceed to plan and construct the small maintenance and office structure and to operate hot‑air balloon flights subject to the planning conditions and any required building permits.