The Douglas County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 23 approved a Use By Special Review to convert part of the former Gabriel’s restaurant in Sedalia into an event center, allowing continued restaurant use when events are not scheduled.

Matt Jacobowski of Community Development summarized the proposal as project US2025-009 and said the applicants, Joe and Carol Given, propose an event center that would host a mix of performances, classes and private events. "The applicant is proposing a use by special review for an event center in Sedalia, project number US2025009," Jacobowski said.

Staff described the management plan included in the USR exhibit and proposed three conditions for approval. The revised condition number 1 requires the applicant to obtain a Douglas County Health Department septic use permit prior to final approval of the record copy of the USR plan exhibit. Staff also listed operational limits in the management plan: a maximum of 250 events per year and up to 90 patrons per event, with a 61-space parking lot and approximately five employees.

Applicants Joe and Carol Given told the board they have run Theater of Dreams in Castle Rock for nearly 23 years and plan to program magic, cabaret, music and arts-centered events. Carol Given said the site includes an older portion of the structure dating to 1907 that is a county landmark; Joe Given described intimate, rotating performance formats and a proposed Magic Bar concept.

Several local residents and business owners spoke in favor. David Mitchell, whose property backs the site, said pending water-board work that could extend water lines might help the septic situation and that he and others supported the applicants. Dennis Gutenberger and John Manca described local economic benefits and long experience with the applicants. Peggy Bodie, a resident of unincorporated Douglas County, said Sedalia ‘‘needs a venue like this’’ and expressed support.

Commissioner (Speaker 7) moved to approve the USR with the three staff conditions; the motion was seconded and passed. The approval requires the septic-use permit and technical corrections prior to final recordation and conditions that commitments made during the public hearing be satisfied before the record copy is finalized.

Next steps: the applicants must secure the Douglas County Health Department septic use permit and make any technical corrections before the county will accept the final record copy of the USR exhibit.