Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Land Use topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Freedman Grove event‑venue conditional use postponed over parking, comp‑plan concerns
Summary
The Liberty County Board postponed a decision on a conditional‑use request for an outdoor event venue at 956 Freedman Grove Road after staff and the planning commission cited parking, drainage and consistency concerns; the applicant said she will revise the proposal, including a lower occupancy limit.
The Liberty County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday voted to postpone a decision on a conditional‑use application for an outdoor event venue at 956 Freedman Grove Road in Fleming to give the applicant time to revise the plan and address county staff and LCPC concerns.
County planning staff told commissioners the venue application — submitted as conditional use 2026‑23 LC — envisioned primarily outdoor weddings and private gatherings and said, "Most events will be intimate gatherings with the maximum capacity of up to a 150 guests for larger occasions," noting parking, stormwater retention needs, noise and visual impacts as reasons the planning commission recommended disapproval. The planner also pointed to the county's comprehensive plan and the Unified Development Ordinance as constraints on introducing a commercial activity into a low‑density residential area.
The applicant told the board she was "very open" to conditions and said she would accept limits to scale and occupancy. "We're not trying to turn it into anything commercial," she said, adding she would prefer small elopement‑style events and photography shoots rather than large receptions.
Commissioners pressed the applicant on drainage and parking, noting that UDO requirements for commercial parking could trigger impervious surface and runoff issues. Several commissioners suggested the applicant consult LCPC and staff and return with a revised site plan; one commissioner moved to postpone consideration so the applicant could "go back to the drawing board," and the motion was seconded and approved by voice/show of hands.
The planning staff advised the applicant that site‑plan review could allow requests for variances (for example, on hard‑surface parking) but that any variance or redesign would need to address stormwater and access. The board asked the applicant to coordinate with the county recreation liaison and county staff and to return with specifics on occupancy, parking plans and any requested variances.
If and when a revised proposal is refiled, the item will return to the commission for public hearing and action.
