FAYETTEVILLE -- A proposed event center near Elkins soon could host fundraisers and weddings in a wooded location.
"I believe this will be a benefit to the Durham, Whitehouse, Elkins community as a nice, affordable venue for them to have events such as weddings, birthdays, reunions, etc.," property co-owner Sara Freitag wrote to planning officials in August.
The Washington County Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustments approved Thursday a permit for the Freitag Event Venue that will sit on 20 acres south of 18494 McCord Road.
No one has objected to the proposal. Neighbors attending the meeting said afterward that they had no problem with the center.
The proposed venue isn't expected to have a large impact on the community, said Courtney McNair, county senior planner.
Occupancy will be limited to about 100 people per event, and traffic isn't expected to increase significantly, according to county documents. The Freitags wanted to build the venue as a family business, Freitag said.
The center will have limited hours and will have about 48 events per year, according to planning records. Another four events are planned for nonprofit or community events, including fundraisers and benefits, documents show.
"We would also like to give back to the community by providing a free space to hold fundraising events for local nonprofit groups and benefits for local people needing help in the case of large medical expenses or other unexpected disasters," Freitag wrote.
The area is secluded on about 20 acres, county records show. The Freitags own the property next door to the center, Freitag said.
Freitag said the center is still in the planning phase, but she hopes to break ground in the spring or early summer. The family still needs architectural plans for the barn-type structure, she said.
The newest center's approval comes after the board approved a wedding and event venue at 5241 Shaeffer Road near Greenland over the objections of neighbors last month.
Neighbor concerns included environmental impact, traffic, safety and changes to the rural community.
Five appeals have since been filed with the Planning Department, said Juliet Richey, director. The Quorum Court likely will hear an appeal sometime in January, she said.
NW News on 12/09/2016