THE COUNTRY HOME Parties can continue until Hovis files appeal

Commercial areas do allow adult-only parties.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
and STEPHEN SIFF
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HARTFORD -- The party goes on at Kay Hovis' Country Home.
Hovis, who has been supporting herself by running adult-only parties out of her state Route 7 home since 1979, has at least two options for possibly overturning a zoning board of appeals decision that could shut her down.
And until she does appeal, the home business can keep its light on, township Atty. Mark Finamore said.
After a hearing Wednesday, the township zoning board of appeals denied an in-home occupation conditional-use permit for Hovis. The board ruled that Hovis' business appeared to violate zoning provisions for at-home businesses, including a requirement that the home business not take up more than 25 percent of the house.
Hovis, 65, said she wanted the permit so she could continue holding weekend parties, for which she charged up to $75 admission.
The Country Home could either ask a Trumbull County Court of Common Pleas judge to review the matter, or Hovis could seek a zone change for her home from residential to commercial.
Hovis has 30 days to file an appeal, Finamore said.
Pending an appeal
Neither she nor her attorney, Robert Bouffard, returned calls to comment. The zoning board of appeals stayed its decision shutting down Country Home pending an appeal.
The private home parties could be operated in a commercial zone, Finamore noted. He said the area is zoned residential.
Hovis has indicated she wants to use the dwelling to provide one or more rooms to have adult parties and allow people to engage in sexually oriented activities.
Hovis testified during the hearing that she has about 15 to 20 couples at her parties. She said usually there are around 15 to 16 cars on party nights.
She also provided affidavits from neighbors who do not object to her continuing to operate the private parties. One neighbor, however, spoke during the hearing, objecting to the parties because of traffic concerns.
In the 25 years that Hovis has been holding her parties, there have been few complaints, township officials have said.
sinkovich@vindy.com siff@vindy.com