Busy Agenda on Tabled and Procedural Matters Occupies Supervisors at July 15 Meeting

Here, as promised, is a summary of other actions taken and presentations made at the July 15 Warren County Board of Supervisors open meeting. Once the agenda was approved as amended, an introduction of new and promoted members of the Warren County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) kicked the meeting off at the 3:34 mark of the linked County video.

New and promoted members of the WCSO were introduced to the board near the meeting’s start. Royal Examiner Photos Roger Bianchini

Following that, WCSO Staffing and Promotions Report, the board got a report on the history of the Appaloosa music festival from Dan Fedoryka (8:10 video mark). That report included a request for County sponsorship and financial assistance moving forward into the festival’s 10th year.

Board Chairman “Jay” Butler asked Fedoryka for more specific information on the type and amount of assistance that was being requested to be presented to the board at a work session that could lead to a vote at a subsequent meeting. With budget cuts to funding of basic community services like law enforcement, emergency services, and public schools in the coming Fiscal Year-2026 having been made due to board-perceived County revenue limitations, it will be interesting to see how they respond to this private entity request for music festival funding assistance.

Appaloosa Music Festival presentation and request was presented by Dan Fedoryka, who traced his personal history with the event coming into its 10th year.

During the first Public Comments period on agenda items (17:10 video mark) the board heard from two speakers, Fred Taber and Kathleen Mancini. Tabor addressed the coming consideration of road name changes, and Mancini addressed waivers on permitting conditions for Short-term Tourist Rentals.

Following Board Reports (23:20 video mark), as reported in our lead story on the meeting, as 7:30 p.m. arrived the supervisors began their two scheduled Public Hearings.

For a detailed report on the second of those two public hearings on staff-suggested code changes for Agritourism Activities, see Royal Examiner’s lead story on the meeting: <“Divided Board Tables Staff Suggested Agritourism Code Changes in Face of Highly Negative Public Feedback”>

The kickoff Public Hearing was another staff-suggested Zoning Text Amendment tabled from an earlier meeting, this one on the permitting of Accessory Dwelling Units in Agricultural Zoning Districts. Below is an excerpt from the staff agenda summary:

1. Public Hearing: Z2025-05-01 – Zoning Text Amendments for Accessory Dwelling Units – “Warren County Planning Staff – An ordinance to amend Chapter 180 of the Warren County Code (Zoning Ordinance) to add a definition for accessory dwelling unit, to repeal the existing definition for guesthouse, to amend the Agricultural zoning districts to make accessory dwelling unit, provided that it is accessory to an existing single-family dwelling, and attached to or located within the existing principal structure” permissible by right and accessory dwelling unit detached from an existing principal structure, provided that the accessory dwelling unit is accessory to an existing single-family dwelling permissible only by conditional use permit in the Agricultural zoning district, and to enact supplementary regulations for accessory dwelling units.”

Accessory Dwelling Unit graphic summary of proposed permitting variables.

After extended board conversation a motion by Supervisor Stanmeyer, second by Jamieson, to approve the text amendment with one change, a reduction of the minimum unit square footage from 750 square feet to 450 square feet was approved by a 4-1 vote, Supervisor Cullers dissenting. Then Culler’s amended motion, seconded by Chairman Butler, to increase the minimum lot size to 5 acres from 3.5 acres, failed by a 3-2 vote, Cook, Jamieson, and Stanmeyer voting to deny. Cullers had expressed concerns about the approved square footage and acreage guidelines leading to overcrowded buildings in Agricultural Districts.

Under “Unfinished Business” item “L,” the board considered a year-old request approaching its final day as enforceable to terminate a Short-term Rental permitting. The staff summary noted the parking violations and 8 separate incident reports from neighbors dating to 2023 and 2024 against Roman Semenov leading to the involvement of the WCSO.

A year without further complaints

However, Zoning Administrator Chase Lenz updated the board on the improved status of the permitted property, as noted in the agenda packet in the wake of contacting Semenov directly about the problems:

“STATUS SINCE JULY 16, 2024:

“On July 16, 2024, the Board passed a motion to table the decision for this item to be brought back if the applicant’s measures do not resolve the issues. Since that time, Planning staff have received no further complaints or incident reports from the Sheriff’s Office. Staff recommend the Board keep the conditional use permit active at this time. Staff can restart the termination process if further issues arise.

Zoning Administrator Chase Lenz and Planning Director Matt Wendling presented staff summaries of text amendment proposals and other ‘Unfinished Business’ proposals to the board.

“PLANNING COMMISSION STATUS:

“On Wednesday, June 12, 2024, the Planning Commission held a discussion for this item. Mr. Henry moved to forward this item to the Board of Supervisors with a recommendation to not terminate CUP2023-04-02. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Richardson and approved by a vote of 5-0.”

After receiving all the information on the initial problem and subsequent compliance with the requirements, on a motion by Jamieson, second by Stanmeyer, Roman Semenov’s CUP was kept active by a 4-1 vote, Cook dissenting.

Other Business

“M. Reconsideration of CUP2025-04-01 – Short-Term Tourist Rental – 311 Golden Russet Dr. – A request for a conditional use permit for a short-term tourist rental. The property is located at 311 Golden Russet Dr. and is identified on tax map 22B, block T, as lot 32. The property is zoned Residential-One (R-1) and is located in the Apple Mountain Lake subdivision in the Happy Creek Magisterial District. Gustavo Rosales is the owner/applicant.”

Zoning Administrator Lenz explained this was a motion for the board to reconsider its previous denial of the permitting. After Jamieson asked why it was being reconsidered so soon after the board’s initial denial one meeting ago, Cullers explained she had requested the reconsideration, not realizing it would come back to the board so quickly. South River District Supervisor Cullers then said her preference would be to table the item to allow some additional information to be gathered prior to a vote on the reconsideration.

County Administrator Ed Daley explained that on the recommendation of County Attorney Jason Ham the item was only on the July 15th agenda for a vote to allow the reconsideration to occur, with a vote coming at some future point after additional relevant information had been received.

County Administrator Ed Daley, left, and County Attorney Jason Ham handled board questions on some procedural issues and legal variables.

Following that, information on a motion by Cullers, seconded by Jamieson, a motion to table the item to allow for future reconsideration was unanimously approved.

Next up was item “N,” a Request for Waiver to Code Sections 80 Numbering of Buildings and 142 Road Naming Requirements to Name Right-of-Way off of Dogwood Farm Rd.

It was presented by Planning Director Matt Wendling, who reminded the board that it had been discussed at a recent work session with an owner who had concerns about a proposed renaming’s impacts on him and his property’s address. After hearing the staff report, on a motion by Cook, seconded by Stanmeyer, the board voted 4-1, Cullers dissenting, “to take no action on the matter at this time.”

Several other road naming items were added to the agenda with no substantive action taken before the second Public Comments section on non-agenda items was reached. See a related coming story on those final public comments, particularly those directed the supervisors way on public library services issues.

The 7 p.m.-convened open meeting adjourned at 8:58 p.m. with the supervisors having spent another hour behind closed doors from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. to discuss library services, the county administrator search, and state road naming guidelines.

See the full meeting discussions and actions in the County video.