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Stone House at Silver Creek seeks higher guest and overnight limits; county questions parking and capacity
Summary
The operator of an event venue asked Madison County to increase allowed on-site guests and overnight occupants; staff and board members questioned parking, traffic flow and whether existing facilities can safely support larger events.
A representative for a Madison County event venue known in the record as the Stone House at Silver Creek asked county officials to amend an existing use permit to increase the maximum permitted overnight occupants and the overall event guest cap; county members pressed for detail on parking, traffic flow and on-site accommodations and did not take a vote.
The applicant said the venue has hosted more than 100 events since opening in 2001, serving roughly 10,000 visitors to Madison County through galas, weddings and other gatherings. The representative said the venue is owner-occupied and that they hire local vendors and neighbors for staffing and parking assistance.
On the permit amendment, the applicant requested a substantial increase in capacity. In the discussion the applicant and a county official clarified two requests: increasing maximum event attendance from 100 to 300 guests, and increasing overnight accommodations (the applicant later confirmed the request for up to 50 overnight guests). The applicant said the property includes a 7,000-square-foot house with four bedrooms and seven bathrooms and that, historically, the site has accommodated up to 200 guests on-site at one time and served up to 250 in on-off patterns for a large event.
County officials and the board asked how the venue would handle parking and ingress/egress. The applicant described a gravel driveway leading to a grass field used for parking; they said they hire local residents to direct parking and staff ingress/egress during peak arrival and departure windows and that they communicate event timing to immediate neighbors. The applicant said they typically host about 20 paid events per year and donate three to five events annually, concentrated in spring through fall.
On several points, the board requested documentation: a parking plan showing how 300 guests (and corresponding vehicle counts) would be staged, confirmation that the existing house safely accommodates the requested overnight number and any necessary emergency-access plans. The board did not approve the amendment at the hearing and asked the applicant to provide additional documentation to allow staff to evaluate traffic flow, parking capacity and safety before the item returns to the agenda.
No vote was recorded. The board asked the applicant to return with a written parking/traffic management plan, occupancy justification for the house and any other supporting materials.
