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Commission backs modification allowing Whitebarn Event Center to use septic after Gilbert declines sewer service
Summary
The commission voted unanimously to remove a previously required condition that the Whitebarn Event Center be served by Town of Gilbert sewer, after the town indicated it would not provide service; opponents urged the commission to keep the condition in place and raised concerns about broken promises and neighborhood impacts.
The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 10–0 on May 8 to recommend approval of case SU250014, a modification to an existing special‑use permit for the Whitebarn Event Center in the Gilbert area that removes condition G, which had required connection to the town of Gilbert sewer system.
Staff told commissioners that the original Z2023014 approval included condition G requiring Town of Gilbert sewer service. The applicant asked the commission to remove that requirement because the town “has indicated it will not provide sewer service,” attorney Rod Jarvis said. County staff noted it had earlier recommended approval on septic at the Planning and Zoning hearing and had no technical objections to removing condition G.
Opponents — including Amanda Gallagher Skinner, who said she spoke for the Skinner family, the nearest neighbor — urged the commission to retain the sewer condition because the Board of Supervisors’ prior approval and neighborhood assent had been premised in part on that condition. Skinner said, "If this stipulation is changed, then the Skinner Jarvis agreement is considered null and void by the Skinner family," and urged a re‑negotiation rather than a single stipulation change.
Jim Torgerson, who identified himself as a Gilbert Town Council member, told the commission that the applicant had acted in good faith based on a town will‑serve email that later proved to have been issued in error by an unauthorized account. Torgerson said the town did not reject the project on safety grounds but that the administrative error made sewer service impracticable within the applicant’s schedule.
The applicant said the site previously had a septic system when used for residential purposes and that septic systems are common in the neighborhood; the applicant offered to return to answer specific questions if needed. Several commissioners said they recognized the community concerns but concluded the modification — septic in place of a Town sewer tie‑in — did not change the land‑use character being regulated by the commission. Commissioner Whitney moved for approval and Commissioner Curley seconded; the motion passed 10–0.
The commission’s vote removes the Town sewer connection requirement from the county’s conditions for the event center recommendation to the Board of Supervisors. Opponents said they may pursue additional action with the Board of Supervisors, and commissioners encouraged continued attention to the other stipulations that regulate operations, parking and sound levels.
