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Newton council denies special-use permit for proposed 905 E. First St. event venue
Summary
The Newton City Council unanimously denied a special-use permit for a proposed wedding and event center at 905 E. First St., citing lack of evidence the proposal met four statutory standards, and neighbor complaints about late-night noise and narrow site access.
The Newton City Council on July 12 unanimously denied Special Use Permit 2022-01, refusing a proposal to operate a wedding and event center at 905 E. First St.
Assistant Planner Alex Fulbright told council the applicant, Jorge Alonso-Acevedo, seeks to use an existing picnic shelter and adjacent open area (recorded as 23.37 acres, Catawba County PIN 3740-14-44-2119) for weddings and outdoor events. The Planning Commission recommended denial after nearby residents raised concerns about loud music, lack of sound barriers and the facility—s hours of operation.
Neighbors told council the site has produced loud music late into the night. "The proposed venue is a noise problem and... we have loud noise late into the night," said Nick Bellomo of 405 Griggs Lane. Delmar Mullins, who said his home sits within 200 feet of the property, told the council the music has been heard "sometimes up until 2:00 a.m." Lorena Mullins and Sandy Hulett also played audio and described sound travels and a narrow access road that they said creates public-safety and nuisance concerns.
The applicants, Jorge and Alejandra Aceveda, said they were willing to comply with ordinances and could enclose the structure if required. "We are willing to comply to all ordinances and rules," Alejandra Aceveda said.
City attorney Bob Grant and staff questioned whether the applicants had submitted evidence to meet the four general standards in Sec. 102-462 (that the use would promote public health and welfare; comply with regulations; maintain or enhance contiguous property values or be a public necessity; and conform to the city's development plans). Council motions to deny each of the four standards were made and seconded in sequence, and the council also voted to find the applicants had not demonstrated compliance with zoning and occupancy laws.
Each motion recorded was approved unanimously. The council—s actions included explicit denials of Standard 1 through Standard 4 of Sec. 102-462, denial of the applicants' demonstration of zoning/occupancy compliance, and a final denial of Special Use Permit 2022-01.
The denial ends the applicants' current effort to use the picnic shelter and grounds for weddings and similar events; the council did not adopt conditions that would have allowed a modified approval. The applicants were invited to return with further evidence or a revised application, but no date for any reapplication was set during the meeting.
The council meeting record shows the Planning Commission had mailed 43 notices and cited neighbor testimony as a basis for its recommendation. No formal appeal or next procedural step was recorded at the meeting.
