County creates 'rural event venue' use, narrows buffer and requires paved access with engineer oversight

Clay County commissioners voted Oct. 8 to add a new 'rural event venue' conditional use to the Land Development Code and to adopt staff‑recommended revisions including a reduced perimeter buffer and additional engineering oversight for access.

Zoning Chief Mike Brown told the board the proposed use would allow for combinations of uses currently classified as conditional—barn weddings, youth camps and retreat centers—while requiring a minimum 50 acres and paved access to the site. The draft also allows RV sites to occupy up to 20% of the property and retains event‑related requirements to comply with the county's event ordinance and noise code. "It would require a minimum of 50 acres," Brown said during his presentation.

Board members debated the definition of "access by a paved road," with several commissioners asking staff to strengthen language so that access would require the most direct paved route to the venue entrance and that the county engineer have authority to approve final access plans. County Engineer Richard Smith recommended wording referencing "major collector or arterial" where appropriate and adding signage requirements to discourage GPS cut‑throughs on residential roads.

The board also approved a development agreement linked to one applicant, North Fork, that commits the developer to pave an access road, reduce a stormwater pond and limit hauling timelines; staff proposed that the developer cover paving costs up to $550,000. The agreement was approved 5–0.

What happens next: Staff will finalize code language for DRC review and will bring remaining adoption details (and the rock‑crushing conditional‑use text amendment) back to the board at future hearings.