Applicant Johnny Gaten wins BZA approval to park up to 10 semis at 1 Fields Road

The Board of Zoning Appeals voted 4-0 to approve a variance allowing parking of up to 10 semi-trucks at 1 Fields Road, the chair said at the meeting.

The applicant, Johnny Gaten, said he lives at the property and asked the board to change its agricultural zoning to permit truck parking. "We have 10 trucks And no more 10," Gaten said, identifying the intended fleet size. Asked what freight the trucks carry, he said they haul "scrap material" for OmniSource and make deliveries for Home Depot and Lowe's, and he stated there would be "no chemicals."

Why it matters: permitting semi-truck parking in an agricultural zone changes the permissible use of the parcel and raises questions about traffic, screening and municipal access. Board members pressed the applicant on those points before voting.

Board members asked about town access to a lift station located on the property; the chair noted an easement for the town, and Gaten told the board the easement "has been open the whole time" and that he keeps the area clear and mowed to maintain access. During questioning a board member suggested additional screening; Gaten confirmed a berm is already in place and said, "I'm gonna put trees in there," and he described a small shed on site used to store tools.

On access and traffic, Gaten said the property has direct access to Highway 67 and described a median in the area, explaining that trucks could use local turning opportunities rather than exiting directly onto both directions of the highway.

After no further audience questions, the chair moved to approve the variance and a board member seconded. The motion carried 4-0. The board then adjourned.

Notes and transcript inconsistencies: the public transcript alternately refers to the property as "Red Rooster Ranch" and "Red Vista Ranch;" the applicant identified himself as Johnny Gaten. The transcript also contains a garbled reference to "267" in one segment; street references elsewhere to "67" were treated in this account as Highway 67 because the applicant repeatedly located the property by reference to "67."