ROGERS — Lisa Rose is asking aldermen to repeal a decision from the Planning Commission which denied her request for a conditional use permit to operate a wedding venue at her home.
The matter comes before the Rogers City Council on Tuesday.
Rose was granted a conditional use permit in January and has staged approximately 12 weddings at her residence on Creekwood Hill Road near Lake Atalanta. She returned to the Planning Commission last week to ask that her conditional use permit be extended for a year. She told commissioners she has 12 more weddings booked.
Use of a private road owned by three residents on Creekwood Hill was an issue when the permit was first granted. Dick Smith, a local attorney and Creekwood resident, said in January he didn’t not want any commercial traffic on the private road he owns and maintains.
Rose promised she would doeverything in her power to guard against wedding guests, caterers and other suppliers from using the private road. Commissioners granted her permit request with a warning that any complaint could cause the permit to be revoked.
The use of the road was the sticking point last week.
Smith and Mark Taylor, two of the three residents on Creekwood Hill, said it was their belief that some commercial traffic from the wedding venue was using the private road.
Rose explained she has a guard at the private road an hour before and an hour after the wedding to ensure her guests don’t use the road. She places temporary signs along the route to direct traff c and sends brides driving instructions to share with guests. She failed to convince commissioners that the private road had not been used by unauthorized drivers.
Commissioners voted three in favor and four against renewing Rose’s permit.
Rose and Smith will likely argue the same points before the council Tuesday.
The council will also consider purchasing a house and 1.64 acres from Terry Cawood at 1703 S. 26th St. The city is buying the property to “square off Dock Wheeler Park,” said Rick Stocker, recreation director. The contract is for $150,000.
“We’ve been trying to buy the property for quite a while but couldn’t agree on a price; he originally wanted $200,000 for the property,” Stocker said.
Offcials plan to move the ball fields at Dock Walker to a planned sports park on Hudson Road. An aquatic center will be built at Dock Wheeler Park. The sports park and aquatic center, alongwith Lake Atalanta renovation, more roads and the purchase of vehicles and equipment for the police and fi re departments are part of a proposed$130 million bond issue. The bond issue is scheduled for a vote early next year.
The 26th Street property is important, Stocker said,because it will improve the land area for the aquatic center and will allow for another entrance and exit to the aquatic center.
News, Pages 1 on 10/25/2010