The Howard County Board of Zoning Appeals on Thursday approved a special exception permitting a wedding and event venue at 2874 South 1150 East in Greentown, but several residents said the approval moves the proposal only to the next stage in a process that still requires site-plan approval and road work.

Petitioner Jennifer Katibi, who said the property was her childhood home, asked the board for a Type 3 home-occupation special exception to operate the venue. "We would be personally involved in ensuring that events are thoughtfully managed and properly executed," Katibi told the board, and she said the venue would offer managed hours, security and licensed bartenders.

County staff recommended approval in a written report that noted the buildings meet setback requirements and the petitioner plans to comply with development standards including square footage, setbacks and parking. Staff also flagged a traffic concern on the narrow 1150 East lane and said the petitioner was working with the highway department to address it.

Neighbors voiced repeated concerns about traffic, noise and safety on 1150 East, saying the roadway is narrower than state recommendations. Scott Hanner, who lives about 50 yards from the proposed venue, disputed a traffic-count figure cited in materials and said the lane is roughly 13 feet wide compared with a 19-to-24-foot width the state uses to define two-lane roads. "We're looking at a 100-seat venue that could be rented out 300 days a year," Hanner said, adding that would amount to "30,000 cars a year to a one-lane road." Gary Sheldon, who said he lives about a quarter-mile away, told the board he fears noise and more people driving while intoxicated on rural roads.

Several speakers said site-plan approval and engineering work will address many concerns. The board and staff clarified that the special-exception vote is an early procedural step: site-plan approval, any right-of-way widening, drainage-review by the County Drainage Board, and agreements with the county engineer are separate, later steps. Board staff said the county engineer, Amber Toll, is involved and that roadway improvements would need an agreement between the property owner and the county before site plan approval.

Katibi said the venue's maximum capacity would be 200 guests; she and staff estimated a typical wedding in Indiana draws 110 to 120 guests, producing roughly 75 to 85 vehicles after accounting for carpooling. She said the owners are prepared to construct a berm and plant evergreens along the west property line to screen neighboring yards and to implement sound mitigation measures.

After public comment, a commissioner moved to approve the special exception; the motion was seconded and carried on a voice vote. The board's approval permits the petitioner to proceed to subsequent steps including subdivision of the property and site-plan review. Several members of the public were reminded they will have additional opportunities for comment during those later proceedings.

The record shows the board relied on staff findings that the use "will not permanently injure other property or uses in the same district and vicinity" and that the development is consistent with the Howard County comprehensive plan, subject to routine site-plan and infrastructure reviews.