The Queen Creek Planning and Zoning Commission approved a five-year renewal of the conditional-use permit for the Knotty Barn event venue, a rural event site in the Ellsworth Suburban Mini Farms neighborhood.

Sarah Clark, a development services staff member, told the commission the venue has operated under a conditional-use permit since March 2022 and that the current owners, the Baldwins, purchased the property in April 2022. Clark said the renewal request would allow public assembly and outdoor events on the roughly 4-acre property and that staff proposes two edits to the conditions of approval, including an explicit five-year permit period followed by an administrative renewal process if neighborhood concerns are absent.

The Knotty Barn includes a 36,100-square-foot indoor barn, an outdoor ceremony area surrounded by a six-foot wall, a bridal ready house and on-site parking that staff said accommodates about 60 spaces. Clark reiterated the existing CUP limits: events between mid-September and late May, a maximum of 150 participants and a strict 10 p.m. cutoff time. She told commissioners staff had not received formal or informal neighborhood complaints in the past three years and that the neighborhood meeting on Nov. 25, 2024 drew nine residents who expressed support.

Nicholas Baldwin, who said he and his wife Ashley bought and operate the venue, described investments they made after acquiring the site, including a fire-suppression system, two additional restrooms and on-site parking. Baldwin said the owners require an on-site event manager, parking attendants, on-site security, use of their approved DJs and bartenders and the use of an approved wedding planner for booked events to help control noise and operations.

Ruben Valenzuela, a longtime resident who said he lives across the street from the Knotty Barn, spoke in support, saying he has lived in the area more than 70 years and had “no complaints.”

After the public hearing, a commissioner moved to approve P24-0152 with the amended conditions recommended by staff; another commissioner seconded and the motion passed with all commissioners present voting in favor.

The permit renewal as approved keeps the operational limits and the requirement that any change in property or business ownership triggers a CUP renewal, and it reiterates the prohibition on expanding the venue beyond the approved site plan. The commission recorded the motion as carried; staff will return the item to town council for final action as part of the standard review process.

For now, the venue may continue to host events consistent with the conditions approved in 2022 and the renewal approved by the commission. The owners said they plan to continue the venue’s current limited-season schedule and the stated operational controls that, they said, have reduced impacts on neighbors.