Adams County committee approves conditional use for five-cabin retreat, sends rezoning to full board

The Adams County Planning & Zoning Committee approved a conditional use permit on a unanimous roll call and recommended a companion rezoning to the full county board for a proposed five-cabin short-term rental retreat at 3868 County Road Q in the town of Del Prairie.

The applicants, identified in the record as Taras and Kate, have applied to rezone roughly 9.44 acres from A3 (agricultural) to Planned Residential and to secure a conditional use permit to operate five high-quality guest cabins, managed on-site by the property owners. Committee member John moved to approve the rezoning recommendation and the conditional use; Pete Hicketer seconded both motions.

Why it matters: the committee’s conditional-use approval allows the applicants to place and operate five cabins on the parcel subject to conditions the committee attached; the rezoning portion must be approved by the Adams County Board at its Feb. 17 meeting to change the property's official zoning designation.

What the committee decided and why: Planning staff read multiple letters in the record both for and against the applications, including a letter from the town clerk of Del Prairie noting prior narrow denials at the town level and several neighbor support letters. The town of Del Prairie’s official paperwork recorded an objection, but staff and the town clerk confirmed a typographical error in the town form that had earlier misreported votes. The Adams County Highway Department recorded no objection.

Committee members settled on two explicit conditions before approving the conditional use: limit the development to the five cabins applied for, and require that no manufactured housing older than two years at the time of placement be used on the site. The committee adopted those conditions by roll call (Dozle: Yes; Hickathier: Yes; Poehler: Yes; Thiessen: Yes; MacReiner: Yes; Gilner: Yes; Carvillo: Yes).

Vote totals and next steps: On the rezone recommendation the committee recorded votes as follows: Carvillo: Yes; Dozell: Yes; Hickathier: Yes; Taylor: No; Thiesen: No; Notgriner: Yes; Gilner: Yes. The committee chair announced the rezone portion’s approval would proceed to the full county board on Feb. 17 at 6 p.m. The conditional use permit passed on roll call and does not require full-board review.

Applicants and testimony: Applicant Taras told the committee, “We will live on-site ourselves and personally manage the property, ensuring strict quiet hours, no parties, no large groups, and a calm, respectful environment at all times,” and said his intention is a low-impact “couples only” retreat. Seller Robert Wick, who owns adjacent property and has held the parcel since 1993, described the project as low-impact and supportive of the township’s character. City planner Nick Fuge, who has worked with the applicants, summarized the proposal as “low density” and said the applicants are open to conditions to limit impacts.

Administrative notes: Staff recorded the parcel as Lot 1 of CSM 5366, Section 16, Town 14 North Range 6 East, Parcel 8-511-10, at 3868 County Road Q. A supplemental three-page document from the applicant was added to the packet shortly before the meeting. The Adams County Highway Department reported no objections. The town participation form and prior town votes were discussed; the town clerk acknowledged a typo on the town form that led to initial confusion about the town board’s position.

What remains: If the full county board approves the rezoning on Feb. 17, the applicants will need to complete any licensing and permitting required for short-term rental operation and meet the conditions attached by the committee. The committee set no additional reporting requirements at the meeting.

The Planning & Zoning Committee concluded its business, reviewed routine reports (including a second draft of the comprehensive zoning revision), set the next meeting for March 4 at 4 p.m., and adjourned.