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Committee postpones resolution against Stewart Family businesses after extended public testimony
Summary
The committee reviewed a resolution asking Stewart Family Christmas Lights LLC and Stewart Family Fireworks LLC to halt operations until a conditional‑use permit, large‑scale development permit and floodplain permit are obtained; the Stewarts’ attorney said the businesses are pursuing permits and the committee voted to postpone consideration to next month pending permit progress and corrective edits to the draft resolution.
The Washington County Services Committee spent the bulk of its meeting on a resolution introduced by Justice Massengale asking the Stewart Family Christmas Lights LLC and Stewart Family Fireworks LLC to cease operations immediately until they obtain a conditional use permit (CUP), a large‑scale development permit and a floodplain permit in accordance with county ordinance 2025‑044. "They've been operating a long time knowing that they need a CUP," Justice Massengale said when introducing the measure and asked the committee to send the resolution to the full court for action.
The resolution prompted extensive debate among justices about zoning enforcement, fairness to other longstanding businesses, the legal effect of a resolution versus ordinance enforcement,…
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