Fayette County working on changing rule, sends warning instead of ticket to Flat Creek Baptist Church —
Fayette County Manager Steve Rapson notified Flat Creek Baptist Church Monday afternoon that the church will face no fines for its car and craft show held on the church grounds June 3.
Instead the county sent a warning letter that the outdoor event was a “violation of a conditional use for the A-R Zoning District. There are no fines associated with this warning of violation.”
The county is looking for a way to avoid this public relations disaster in future years by changing the county zoning ordinance.
“Staff are currently reviewing the conditional use provisions in our county ordinances and zoning codes for the Board of Commissioners’ review and consideration that may change this type of conditional use being allowed,” Rapson wrote to the church.
Rapson copied the commissioners on the warning, adding, “we are going to issue a warning since we’re actively working on revising the ordinance to address these issues.”
A similar car show went off with county permission the same day at rapper Rick Ross’s mansion in north Fayette County. That was an admission-fee only event with $300,000 in announced prizes for various types of vehicles. In addition, the event was labeled a “rodeo” to gain county permission.
The church car show featured free admission for more than 1,200 visitors to view more than 125 vehicles placed about the parking lots of the church grounds. A simultaneous craft show was held under tents on grass nearby.
The church held a car show last year with about 500 in attendance.
Below is the letter from the county to the church:
We’ll see if they wised up when we see the revision of the policy. I’m eager to be surprised.
Good. Glad someone wised up.