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York County planning panel approves special-exception for annual rodeo on Highway 97
Summary
A York County hearing approved a special-exception request allowing Jeff Kelly to hold multiple rodeo events this year on his 60-acre property near Hickory Grove after staff found required safety, parking and sanitation measures in place and public speakers supported the proposal.
A York County hearing on May 20 approved a special-exception request that will allow local resident Jeff Kelly to hold multiple rodeo events this year on his 60-acre property off Highway 97 near Hickory Grove.
County planning staff told the panel the applicant submitted provisions for parking, traffic control, portable restrooms and hand-washing stations and that the site provided substantial buffers from neighboring homes. "We find a special exception meets all three of the approval criteria," staff said during the presentation.
The request covers up to five dates this year with three event instances planned (mostly Friday and Saturday evenings from about 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.), staff said. The application anticipates most traffic will arrive after 7:30 p.m., outside peak road hours, and the property offers on-site stacking distance so attendees would not queue on Highway 97. Staff also said an old alignment of Highway 97 would remain available for emergency-only use.
Supporters spoke at the public hearing. Resident Carolyn Atkins said the rodeo gives children local opportunities to compete and train: "This would give opportunities for children in our county to stay in our county, to be able to ride in our county," she said. Anne Gilfillan, who lives less than a mile away, told the panel noise and traffic have not been a problem in prior years.
Applicant Jeff Kelly told the panel he provides marked handicap parking and carts to assist patrons with limited mobility: "We have multiple handicapped spots ... and then we actually have carts to bring them also," he said when asked about accessible parking.
With no speakers in opposition, a board member moved to approve the special exception and a second was offered; the panel voted to approve the request. Staff noted it has explored options to reduce the need for annual re-approval but said the current code requires annual special-exception requests for events of this type.
The panel closed the item and moved to the next case on the docket.
