Douglas County planners recommend permit for venue with up to 12 weddings a year

Douglas County’s Planning Commission voted 8-0 on Oct. 19 to recommend a special-use permit for a wedding venue at 2485 South Russellville Road. The Board of County Commissioners, which has final approval authority, is scheduled to consider the application Oct. 27, according to the commission’s hearing record.

The proposal, called Venue at the Pond, would allow up to 12 weddings a year, with no more than 80 people at each event, on about three acres of a 40-acre agricultural property. Events would use temporary facilities.

Neighboring landowner John Beckwith told commissioners that the shared driveway crosses his property, is too narrow for cars to pass or turn around, and could require a vehicle to back a long distance to the road. The applicant described the route as about 500 feet long and 13½ feet wide, with grass alongside for passing and room to turn near a gate. The applicant also said an access easement serves the property and that the applicants maintain, plow and mow the road.

The county’s staff report and application records identify two non-exclusive ingress-and-egress easements recorded in 1991. Staff said the easements do not state a limit on the nature or volume of use and that county engineering reviewers had no concerns with the access documents. The application file does not identify a shared-drive maintenance agreement.

Staff said the site plan includes a loop driveway. Franktown Fire had no objection, provided access meets fire code and required permits and inspections are completed.

The commission recommended approval with a condition requiring any necessary technical corrections to the final site-plan exhibit. The county commissioners’ scheduled Oct. 27 hearing is the next step in the application process.