Planning commission approves Hideaway Bar video lottery machines and food‑truck home‑occupation permit

The City of Brandon Planning and Zoning Commission voted to approve a conditional use permit allowing the Hideaway Bar and Casino to install six video lottery terminals and separately approved a home‑occupation permit permitting a food truck to operate from 1509 South Split Rock.

The Hideaway Bar and Casino application, presented by co‑owner Chad Hazard, requested permission to add six video lottery machines to the small establishment directly behind Pizza Ranch. Planning staff recommended approval with conditions that the applicant provide all required state approval documents to the city and supply any updated site plans the state requires. The commission’s approval limited the installation to six machines as requested; staff noted that without a specific limit the license could allow up to 10 machines.

“...what we're looking at doing again from a revenue standpoint, we're limited on space there ... is to add roughly 6 video lottery machines into the facility,” said Chad Hazard, identifying himself as one of the Hideaway’s owners. Staff, represented in the discussion by Patrick Reed, asked the commission to require copies of whatever the state approves so the city’s file mirrors the state plan. Hazard agreed to provide the state documents and to return if the proposed second phase — a separate room for additional machines up to the full ten allowed by law — is pursued.

Separately the commission granted a home‑occupation permit to Barry Bakken, owner/ operator of a food truck who lives at 1509 South Split Rock. Bakken told the commission he has operated a food truck in Brandon for several years and asked permission to set up in his driveway occasionally. He said most customers grab food to go; he might place a picnic table for limited on‑site consumption and would follow the city’s permitting process for mobile food vendors.

Neighbors and a representative of Southeastern Development Foundation raised concerns about potential traffic and parking, noting an adjacent property the foundation still owns. Bakken told commissioners he would provide at least eight off‑street parking spaces and agreed to discourage on‑highway parking.

Both items were approved after motions and seconds on the planning agenda. The commission endorsed the Hideaway conditional use with the staff‑recommended condition that the applicant provide state approval documents to the city and that any updated state site plans be supplied to the city if changes occur. The home‑occupation permit was approved without additional conditions recorded on the transcript.

The Hideaway owners and Bakken were advised that any expansion beyond the approvals — for example, adding more video lottery machines or adding a new, larger food‑service operation at 1509 South Split Rock — would require a new application to the city.

Votes at a glance - Conditional use: Hideaway Bar and Casino — Approved; limit set to six video lottery machines; condition: submit state approvals and any updated state site plans to the city (mover and seconder recorded on the meeting minutes). - Home‑occupation permit: 1509 South Split Rock (food truck) — Approved (mover and seconder recorded on the meeting minutes).

Ending: Both approvals close the items on the planning agenda and the meeting moved on to a broader discussion of signage and a variance before adjournment.