Neighbors urge denial of Three Goat Farm event permit over noise, traffic and wildfire concerns

Kootenai County hearing examiner Carl Granthra heard more than a dozen public comments opposing a conditional use permit request to operate the “Three Goat Farm” property as a place of assembly or worship.

County planner Blake Zed told the examiner that the original application proposed events May through September with as many as 125 patrons (99 inside the barn) and hours as late as 10 p.m. Agency reviewers provided conditions but no outright objections, while the public comment record included 11 opposing submissions citing compatibility, wildfire risk, noise and traffic. Zed said staff had received a revised narrative and site plan from the applicant that reduced the scope of operations and was added to the record.

Applicant Keith Brown told the hearing he and his wife plan a seasonal, owner‑attended venue limited to Saturdays, one event per day, May 1–Sept 30, with a maximum of 99 attendees and an 8 p.m. end time. Brown said the revised plan also adds a 7‑foot earth berm around parts of the venue, installs decibel monitors at the property edge, uses portable restroom trailers, prohibits open flames and smoking, limits alcohol service by drink tickets and certified bartenders, and relies on off‑site catering.

Neighbors who spoke said the venue would overlook adjacent yards because the event space is located nearer the southern edge of the parcel than staff’s earlier summary suggested, making visual and noise buffering harder. Tiffany Brunson said the barn “overlooks our property” and warned that sound carries in quiet rural evenings. Others described the Ramsey Road driveway location as near the crest of a hill with limited visibility and said they routinely observe high speeds there. Several speakers said they doubted voluntary rules and monitoring would hold if the property were later sold.

Applicant Brown and staff emphasized mitigation steps. Zed said Lakes Highway District reviewed and concluded the approach could be made safe with required trimming and an approach permit; the Northern Lakes Fire District provided a list of best practices that staff proposed as conditions. Brown said he would use cameras and other measures to confirm attendance and would not allow on‑site food prep or smoking.

The examiner closed the public hearing for CUP26‑00005 and will include the record in his recommendation to the county commissioners. No formal decision was made at the hearing.

Quote: “We truly believed the neighbors would rally behind our vision…we do appreciate the constructive criticism. You helped strengthen the proposal,” applicant Keith Brown said in his testimony.

What happens next: The hearing examiner will prepare a written recommendation to the county commissioners, who have final authority. If commissioners consider the application, any conditions or limits recommended by staff or raised by the examiner will be part of their deliberations.