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Commissioners approve rezoning for proposed Highway 314 wedding venue despite resident opposition
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Summary
The Board approved two related rezoning petitions for properties on Highway 314 to A-R for a proposed wedding/event venue and bed-and-breakfast, each with a condition requiring parcels to be combined; several residents voiced concerns about traffic, noise and dam repairs.
Fayette County commissioners on Feb. 26 approved two related rezoning requests (Petitions 1372-25-A and 1372-25-B) that will allow portions of a Highway 314 property to be rezoned to A-R (Agricultural-Residential), a move the applicant says would enable a wedding/event venue and bed-and-breakfast.
Planning and Zoning Director Debbie Bell explained staff viewed the request as a less intense use consistent with the Future Land Use Map and recommended conditional approval; staff's recommended condition required the involved parcels to be combined by recorded plat within 180 days or before submittal of a site development plan.
Agent Randy Boyd said the owner planned to live on the property and begin with a tented event space before investing in permanent facilities. Mr. Boyd said the proposed venue would be accessed from Highway 314.
Multiple residents voiced opposition, citing increased traffic on State Route 314, noise, safety concerns and the loss of area tranquility. Several speakers also asked about a dam on the property; Boyd said needed repairs were on the lower, southeast portion of the parcel and would not be the neighbors' responsibility.
"All the traffic from the proposed property would access the venue from Highway 314," Boyd said.
Vice Chairman Edward Gibbons moved to approve Petition 1372-25-A with one condition; the motion passed 4-1 with Commissioner Charles D. Rousseau voting in opposition. Petition 1372-25-B was approved later in the meeting by the same 4-1 margin after an initial motion to deny failed for lack of a second.
The approvals were conditional on combining parcels as noted in the staff recommendation. The record shows residents raised concerns that the Board's action could change the character of the area; Commissioner Rousseau said he sided with residents and opposed both motions.
Next steps for the applicant will include filing the final plat to combine parcels and pursuing any required permits for event operations.