Neighbors raise traffic, noise and safety concerns at hearing for proposed Tannen Road wedding venue

At a Tazewell County zoning hearing, Sydney and Ben French asked the county for a special-use permit to operate a wedding and banquet venue at 18825 Tannen Road in Deer Creek Township. Land-use staff reported the proposal would add a small 15-foot addition to an existing event building for restrooms and a bridal suite, and recommended approval with conditions; neighbors and the township road commissioner urged caution over traffic, noise and safety.

Land-use staff told the zoning board the site is primarily agricultural, the nearest residence is about a quarter mile south and the event building sits more than 500 feet from Tannen Road. The staff report said the proposed events would be limited to Fridays and Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 10 p.m. and that public health and building requirements, including septic, well and food permits, could apply. The staff recommendation stated it “supports approval of this application” subject to compliance with health department and building-code requirements.

“The visual appearance of it…