Queen Creek council extends permit for events venue

A popular wedding and events venue has received a five-year extension of its conditional-use permit.

At its Wednesday meeting, the Queen Creek Town Council voted 6-1 to extend the conditional-use permit for The Knotty Barn on the southwest corner of 204th Street and Superstition Drive.

Council Member Jeff Brown was the sole dissenting vote.

“I voted no on the original application. I did so because I was worried about precedent. This is a commercial enterprise within the interior of a neighborhood,” Brown told the owners. “When I vote no this evening, as I did the first time, it’s not a reflection on your operation or the way you conduct business there. Instead, it’s because I still do worry about the precedent and other neighborhoods and actors that might not be anywhere near as good as the operation you run. You’re conscientious and responsible and I appreciate that, but I have to look at the broader picture.”

Nicholas and Ashley Baldwin purchased The Knotty Barn in April 2022, one month after the previous owners were granted a three-year conditional-use permit by the council. The Baldwins have a home on the property.

The former owners, Ray and Robyn Epps, drew the ire of some council members for operating the venue without proper permitting. At the time, some residents expressed concerns to the council about site parking and trash from events.

Residents have been considerably more supportive of the Baldwins and had expressed that to the Planning & Zoning Commission when it reviewed the extension application in January.

“This is why we have the conditional-use permit, so that we can see what happens,” Vice Mayor Leah Martineau said at the council meeting. “You have obviously proven yourself and so I’m happy to give five years.”

A condition for approval was added to the five-year permit. After the five-year extension expires, the owners will have to ask for another permit and a neighborhood meeting would be required as part of the review process. However, if there are no concerns or opposition to the business, the planning administrator can approve the new permit without going back to council.

“Having this in the community for three years — this is one of those things that speaks to a good transition, being compatible and working with your neighbors to mitigate the impacts to the surrounding neighborhood,” Mayor Julia Wheatley said. “You have proven that you’ve done that well over the past three years and I appreciate that. I know your neighbors appreciate that.”

The Knotty Barn is within the Ellsworth Suburban Mini Farms community. According to a planning and zoning staff report, the “site is approximately 4 acres, with Superstition Drive running the length of the northern boundary, and 204th Street running the length of the eastern boundary. Residential acreage properties are adjacent to the site’s eastern and southern boundaries.”

The Knotty Barn provides a venue for weddings, baby showers, corporate events and more on weekends between mid-September through Memorial Day. All events end by 10 p.m.

Activities take place in the rear of the property inside a 3,600-square-foot barn, a 3,500-square-foot gathering area and a bride’s “getting ready” house at the northeast corner of the site, a staff report stated.

As part of the permit renewal process, a neighborhood meeting was held on Nov. 25, with nine residents from the Ellsworth Suburban Mini Farms community attending.

“Those in attendance expressed their appreciation for the operators’ transparency and success in their management of events, stating that they have not experienced trash, traffic or noise issues since the Baldwins assumed ownership,” according to a staff report.

We’d like to invite our readers to submit their civil comments, pro or con, on this issue. Email AZOpinions@iniusa.org. Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org.