York County BZA approves special exception for recurring rodeo events on Highway 97

The York County Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously to approve a special-exception permit (case Z26-2) allowing a series of rodeo events at 3771 Highway 97, about six miles south of Hickory Grove.

Staff told the board the applicant has held similar events in prior years and presented plans addressing access, parking, sanitation and safety. The staff presentation said the 60-acre site will use a new additional driveway and on-site parking fields, stacking lanes to remove vehicles from the highway, vendor-provided portable restrooms and handwashing stations, a 15-person security team, medical support including EMTs with side-by-side vehicles, and mounted law-enforcement patrols. Staff reported a neighborhood notice radius of about 2,500 feet and said no opposition was recorded at the neighborhood meeting; staff recommended approval based on the zoning approval criteria.

At a board question about why the applicant must return each year, staff said the zoning code (referred to in the hearing as Title 155) currently requires special-exception approvals for temporary events; staff added that a separate administrative ordinance to handle temporary special events has been drafted by county staff but has not been adopted by county council.

Applicant Jeff Kelly, who identified himself for the record as living at 3771 Highway 97, told the board he runs the events, learns from prior occasions and adjusts logistics based on input from neighbors and law enforcement. Kelly explained differences between event types: the rodeo events planned for the coming days would have four sheriff deputies and two mountain-patrol officers, while a larger one-day music-and-rodeo event in June would include higher staffing and additional portable toilets (Kelly referenced ordering about 40 portable restrooms for larger events).

Residents who spoke for the application described the rodeo as a community event. Carolyn Atkins read a letter of support from Anne Gilfillin and said the community benefits from the event. Farmer and nearby resident Tommy Breton said volunteer groups handle parking and charitable proceeds and urged the county to consider streamlining approvals for recurring, well-run events.

The public hearing was closed and a motion to approve the special-exception request as submitted was made and seconded. Board members spoke in favor, citing previous successful events and the applicant’s corrective measures; the motion passed unanimously (the transcript does not record an exact roll-call tally).

The approval allows the applicant to hold the named temporary events consistent with the county’s definition for temporary special events (staff noted such events may include multiple occurrences up to a specified number of days per year under the code).