The Boone County Board of Zoning Appeals on Dec. 10 voted to table a petition from Haven Hills Estate seeking to change commitments tied to a 2016 special exception so the wedding venue could become the primary use and the on-site residence could be used for overnight accommodations.

Staff said the property, a 10-acre tract with event barns and a 6,922-square-foot primary residence, was approved in 2016 as an accessory outdoor recreational facility (wedding venue) while the owner lived on-site. The new owners, Haven Hills Estate (Alex Mashburn), live out of state and asked to modify commitments so the venue could be the primary use and the house could be made available as a short-term rental for guests.

Planning staff and the technical advisory committee raised multiple concerns: the existing septic system was designed for residential use and may not meet demand for overnight lodging tied to events; bed-and-breakfast standards and building-code requirements could apply; and additional written commitments, inspections and potentially a zone-map change could be required to ensure compatibility with surrounding agricultural and residential uses.

Lindsay Harrison, the prior owner who continues to help manage the site, told the board the day-to-day operations would remain similar and said the previous commitments had been transferred at sale; she described how the residence is advertised for short-term stays and said managers will remain locally available for guest issues. Several board members questioned whether converting the primary use could unintentionally create a commercial rezoning effect and whether transferred commitments were sufficiently robust to prevent future problems.

After extended questioning on occupancy, septic, enforcement of quiet hours and whether the on-site house would be used to circumvent venue hours, the board agreed the matter required more information and legal review. The BZA continued the item to the Jan. 28, 2026 meeting so staff can provide the original commitments and proposed redlines and the board can consult with county counsel.

Next steps: staff will provide the original commitments and any proposed redline language; the applicant will be expected to address septic upgrades, bed-and-breakfast requirements and written neighbor approvals if needed.