So far, Shane Perrin is finding smooth sailing for his plans to open a paddleboarding operation that would be based in the Jefferson County portion of Eureka.
Perrin, who lives in the 2800 block of Hwy. W, is asking the county to approve a conditional-use permit for a recreation facility on the half-acre lot south of his home. Both lots are between Hwy. W and the Big River.
The Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-0 Oct. 14 to recommend approval of Perrin’s plans.
The County Council, which has ultimate authority on land-use issues in the county’s unincorporated areas, will likely take up the matter at a meeting in late October or early November.
Perrin, a Florida native, said he wants to open a second stand-up paddleboard operation to complement his business in Valley Park. He said he also operated a paddleboard business in Florida.
Perrin’s business model calls for him to drive his clients to put their paddleboats in the Big River, likely at Rockford Beach Park in House Springs or Byrnes Mill Park, and hours later they would end their journey at the Eureka-area property, said Dave Vonarx of VonArx Engineering in Hillsboro, who represented Perrin at the hearing.
Because of the constant threat of flooding on the lot, Perrin plans only to build a pavilion on the foundation of the house that was on the property, which Perrin said he spent two years tearing down. He also plans to build a storage shed nearby.
The half of the lot closest to the Big River is in the floodway and the other half, which is closer to Hwy. W, is in the flood plain.
Only one person said he was worried about Perrin’s plans.
Joshua Hall, who lives off Hwy. W north of the site, said he was concerned about noise the business might generate.
“I do have concerns,” he said. “We already have problems with noise pollution in the area. I want to know if they’re going to be operating after 9 p.m.”
Under the terms of the conditional-use permit, Perrin could only operate the business between dawn and dusk.
Vonarx said Perrin has five children and since their house is next door to the proposed business, “a lot of alcohol and late-night hours are not part of his plan.”
Vonarx also said people are not going to be on-site for long.
“People are going to be coming in the morning, taken to the river upstream, and show up hours later sunburned and ready to go home. This is not going to be an entertainment facility. There will be only 19 parking spaces.”
Commissioners approved a variance that would allow Perrin to use the foundation of the former home even though it is closer than 20 feet to the lot to the south.
That lot, which was purchased by the county as a flood buyout property, is vacant and cannot be used for a home, officials said.
Perrin said he has helped the county by clearing part of that site.