An agri-entertainment venue and equestrian center proposal in the northern part of Hall County on Lawson Road was unanimously denied by Hall County commissioners Thursday night.
The planning commission recommended approval in June for what would have been a wedding venue, but after community opposition and concerns raised by District 3 commissioner Gregg Poole — whose district would have housed the venue — it was denied.
The planning commission tacked nine conditions onto their recommendation, including limiting the number of events to six weddings and two birthday parties per year.
The applicant, Mary Kirrane, partnered with The Last Stop Horse Rescue, a non-profit that cares for abandoned and abused horses. The weddings would have been equestrian-themed, with the proceeds going to the non-profit.
“The restrictions are so onerous for the wedding venue, that I’m almost embarrassed to have agreed to them,” Kirrane said.
Kirrane originally wanted no more than three weddings per month, but that number was reduced by the planning commission.
“I have requested six weddings, five hours each,” Kirrane said. “That’s 30 hours a year for my wedding venue.”
Tyler Crawford, who announced he is running for Hall County’s District 3 seat following Poole’s announcement he would run for U.S. Congress, spoke in favor of the venue at the meeting.
“It seems like, unfortunately, when the yellow rezoning sign comes out … the knives come out a little bit,” Crawford said.
Robert Swoszowski, a resident of Lawson Road, said he chose to move to where he is because he wanted to live in a rural setting.
“To have this venue next to us would be detrimental,” Robert said. “We like the simplicity of where we live in this community.”
Wanda Swoszowski, Robert’s wife, also spoke against the property.
“I’m more concerned not just in the wedding venue … but she also was approved for two birthday parties,” Wanda said. “I want you to really take that into consideration for our privacy.”
Raymond Dover, another Lawson Road resident, also spoke against the application.
“We’ve been there almost 60 years,” Dover said.
Dover runs a poultry farm, and was concerned that the horses could affect his birds. Dover also reiterated concerns about traffic on the road, with the road being curvy and a lot of children outside.
“We all know change is inevitable,” Bucky Kennedy, another Lawson Road resident, said. “What we’re asking is at the pace in which it happens.”
Poole ultimately felt like the plan was not fleshed out enough, and made a motion to deny the application. The motion to deny passed 4-0.
“When somebody brings up one of these, we don’t just have a conception, we have a descriptive plan on what it’s going to look like,” Poole said.
