The owners of a scenic rural property on Charrette Creek Road have received the go-ahead to rent their historical barn for “country weddings.”Sherri and Gabe Bockhorst were granted a conditional use permit (CUP) for the weddings by the Warren County Commission on May 14. Some nearby residents had petitioned for the commission to deny the permit.Sherri Bockhorst said the county’s decision has them elated.“We’re really excited. This has been a long process,” she said. “We hate to see some of the conflict down in the (Charrette Creek) valley, but we’ll be respectful of our neighbors. We’re excited to be able to host the weddings.”Presiding County Commissioner Joe Gildehaus and Southern District Commissioner Hubie Kluesner voted to approve the CUP. Northern District Commissioner Dan Hampson was absent.The commission approved the CUP as submitted by the county’s planning and zoning board. The Bockhorsts originally received approval from the planning board in March, with limitations on the number of weddings they could host and restrictions on music at the events.The only restriction added by the commission was to explicitly state that no parking is allowed on Charrette Creek Road at any time.Opponents who live on Charrette Creek Road protested approval of the CUP in March, requesting a public hearing to voice their concerns before the county commission. That hearing was held May 6.During the discussion, Sherri and Gabe Bockhorst described their efforts to beautify their own property since moving in 10 years ago, including transplanting their 1886 barn from the Krakow area. They said no homes other than their own are visible from the barn venue.Other neighbors expressed support for the wedding business, describing the Bockhorsts as good neighbors who police the area against disturbances.However, opponents maintained their concerns that hosting large weddings could cause dangerous traffic on the gravel Charrette Creek Road and increase problems with trespassing.Charles Krueger, who co-owns one of the neighboring properties, told the commission his stretch of Charrette Creek has been a frequent victim of trespassing for years. He fears that thousands more visitors coming through the area could worsen that problem.

A barn on Charrette Creek Road owned by Sherri and Gabe Bockhorst, seen here staged for photography. The Bockhorsts plan to offer the barn as a rentable wedding venue.

Submitted photo