Fenton aldermen approve zoning text change and special-use permit for private business club at 1505 Fen Park Drive

The Fenton Board of Aldermen voted to approve a zoning text amendment and a special-use permit that will allow a private business club to operate at 1505 Fen Park Drive.

At a specially called Oct. 10 meeting, aldermen approved bill 24-72 — an ordinance amending zoning sections related to private business clubs that will become ordinance 44-91 — and then approved bill 24-73-a, the special-use permit for Scott Schuessler and Adventure Unknown Club LLC, which will become ordinance 44-92.

The meeting included a tense exchange before the votes. One alderman read a series of text messages into the public record that criticized a member for not attending a previous vote and included derogatory language; the alderman said the messages “threatened me and my family” and announced they would recuse themselves from the vote. The alleged messages, read aloud, included: “Thanks for skipping the meeting, so we wouldn't have a tie vote. Don't ever call me again for anything,” and a second message copied to the speaker that said, “Your brother fucked me over and my group tonight by not showing up to vote.” The board member said screenshots were placed on the record.

Scott Schuessler, identified himself and gave an address during the meeting. He apologized for the messages and said he was not aware of the negative communications. “I apologize for him,” Schuessler said, adding he did not know what motive the sender had.

Procedural steps preceded the final votes. Staff noted the text amendment required only an approval motion because first and second readings had already taken place; the text amendment vote was presented as whether this business type should be allowed in a BP-3 zone under the added restrictions. An alderman clarified the vote was about whether the business type fits the zone given the restrictions, not about personal objections to how the business might look.

Roll-call votes were recorded for both measures. For bill 24-72 (to become ordinance 44-91) the clerk recorded: Alderman Harrell — Aye; Alderman Masurang — Aye; Alderman Jokers — Aye; Alderman Hills — Aye; Alderman Claus — Nay; Alderman Kreutz — Aye. The motion passed with an abstention noted on the record (Brock abstained earlier in the meeting). For bill 24-73-a (to become ordinance 44-92), the clerk recorded: Alderman Harrell — Aye; Alderman Hills — Aye; Alderman Claus — Aye; Alderman Jokers — Aye; Alderman Mazurang — Aye; Alderman Kretz — Aye; Alderman Westbrock — Abstain. The motion carried.

Board members and staff said the special-use permit includes restrictions developed by planning staff to make the business fit the BP-3 zoning category; planning staff (Amy) and staff member Erin were cited as helping craft those conditions. The permit application listed the operator as “Scott Schuessler and Adventure Unknown Club LLC.” The site for the SUP is 1505 Fen Park Drive.

The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn that carried unanimously.

What happens next: both ordinances now stand approved as recorded at the special meeting; staff and planning will implement the restrictions attached to the SUP and ensure conditions are met before operation. The transcript shows screenshots of the text messages were placed on the record but does not show any formal disciplinary or enforcement action related to those messages during the meeting.