Hendry County commissioners continue hearing on Terrell Gardens event venue after heavy neighbor concerns

Julie Wilkins, the applicants' contract planner, told the Hendry County Board of County Commissioners that the owners of Terrell Gardens seek a special exception to operate a limited event venue at their historic property. Wilkins said the proposal would allow “not to exceed 12 events … between October and March” and “not to exceed a 125 guests,” and that the application includes parking calculations that require about 32 spaces with 24 on the property and overflow parking arranged on the neighboring Vaughn property (Wilkins for the record).

Wilkins said the applicants had prepared conditions and were willing to refine them: two ADA spaces would be provided near the house, events would not be year‑round, and the applicants asked for modest flexibility for setup and teardown related to vendor deliveries. “They're not trying to go in the alcohol business,” Wilkins said; she explained alcohol service would be handled by caterers when alcohol is provided at events.

Neighbors who live along Fort Denaud Road urged the board to deny the special exception or to add stricter conditions. Bob Hall said traffic on Fort Denaud has become “horrendous” and worried about people crossing the road at night; David Castor and other speakers expressed concerns about intoxicated attendees walking across an unlit rural road and about noise from DJs and bands. Several speakers—Rodney Murray, Ron Smalley and others—also warned that approval could encourage similar conversions of residential properties into event venues.

Supporters spoke as well. Thomas Vaughn and other adjacent property owners told commissioners that the Ryans had hosted family events for decades without code complaints and that the family was willing to cooperate on parking and noise controls. The applicants said they wanted to operate “the right way” and were amenable to limits that reduce neighborhood impacts (Laska Ryan for the record).

County Attorney Matt Rollerson advised the board that special exceptions are an allowed mechanism under the county’s land‑use code and comprehensive plan; the legal distinction raised by commissioners was whether the activity would be treated as a private family event or as a commercial, revenue‑generating business requiring conditions. Commissioners focused on enforceable language for revocation or suspension if conditions are violated, an 8:00 p.m. cap for rehearsal activity, licensing and enforcement around alcohol, and whether overflow‑parking agreements should run with the property if ownership changes.

After extended questioning and public comment, Commissioner Emery Howard moved to continue the public hearing to give staff and applicants time to craft clearer conditions, including language on revocation and rehearsal limits. The board approved a motion to continue the item to Jan. 27, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in LaBelle County Commission Chambers.

What happens next: staff will draft revised conditions (including options for transferability, enforcement and on‑site safety attendants for overflow parking), share them with the applicant, and return the item to the board on Jan. 27 for final action.