COUNTRY HOME Counsel: Business fails to fit zoning

The owner has applied for a conditional-use permit.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
HARTFORD -- A house used for adult parties that involve sexually oriented activities cannot continue operating in a residentially zoned district, said the township's legal counsel.
Atty. Mark Finamore said the Country Home, on state Route 7, does not fit the township zoning definition of a customary in-home occupation.
Therefore, it cannot continue to operate in a residentially zoned district, Finamore says in his three-page ruling released Thursday.
"An analysis of the facts in this situation indicates that Mrs. [Kay] Hovis' use of her dwelling to provide one or more rooms to have adult parties and engage in sexually oriented activities does not fall within the purview of a home office maintained to carry on a customary home occupation," Finamore said.
"I believe that the plain reading and common definition of a customary home occupation does not include adult parties for sexually oriented activities."
Owner's option
Finamore said if Hovis wants to continue to host adult parties at her home she can apply for an in-home occupation conditional-use permit. He noted that Hovis has applied for the permit. Those permits are issued by the township's board of zoning appeals, Finamore said.
A hearing on the permit request has not been scheduled.
Neither Hovis nor her attorney, Robert Bouffard, or township zoning officials could be reached to comment.
According to the township's zoning regulations regarding an in-home occupation, Hovis would have to meet several requirements, including proof that the business provides a service, does not involve manufacturing or sale of items and that the traffic generated would not be greater than what normally would be expected in a residential neighborhood.
In the 25 years that Hovis has been holding her parties, there have been few complaints, township officials have said.
Hovis has said that her weekend parties were gatherings of friends, and included singing and dancing as well as sex between consenting couples.
The business was shut down a few weeks ago for zoning violations after Country Home's Web page was brought to the attention of Trumbull County and township officials by press reports.
The citation issued by zoning inspector William Eckart called for an immediate stop to the parties.
sinkovich@vindy.com