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Board approves Huckleberry Knob’s special‑event permit but denies its primitive campsites after neighbors’ concerns
Summary
Owners of Huckleberry Knob Nursery sought permission to host small events and two primitive campsites; the board approved the special‑event venue request while voting to deny the campsite portion after neighbors raised concerns about overnight occupancy, noise and enforcement; supervisors debated enforceable limits and whether to cap attendees at events.
Scott and Amanda McLeod, owners of Huckleberry Knob Nursery at 1469 Sunnymeade Road, asked the board for a special‑use permit to host small events (micro‑weddings, workshops) and to operate two primitive campsites tied to events.
"I think probably 50 is about all that it can comfortably house" for intimate events, Scott McLeod said when asked about maximum attendance, and he described the campsites as "primitive" and tent‑only for the two spaces he proposed.
Neighbors and several supervisors raised enforceability and nuisance concerns. One supervisor said limiting commercial special events to 50 guests could be difficult to administer and could inadvertently constrain legitimate nursery‑related activities; others worried about nighttime supervision for overnight camping tied to events. Staff recommended defining what constitutes a "special event" versus nursery operations so conditions are enforceable.
Board action was divided. A substitute motion to approve the application as submitted (including two campsites and no attendance cap) failed. The board then approved the primary special‑event venue portion of the application but denied the campsite portion, voting to allow the McLeods to use the site for special events in line with staff conditions while excluding the two primitive overnight campsites.
Next steps: staff will prepare the formal conditions of approval to reflect the board’s action and will include routine staff enforcement conditions (noise ordinance compliance, site use consistent with the submitted narrative).
