A rural event center permit issued to Whidbey Wayfarer Farm in Langley has been appealed by neighbors who aren’t too excited about weddings in their Bayview Road neighborhood.

Their concerns center around the parking, noise and other issues associated with holding large events in a rural area.

Island County Hearings Examiner Michael Bobbink approved the permit in June, subject to conditions of approval which included a noise mitigation plan.

The neighbors since appealed the decision to the Island County Board of Commissioners who listened to arguments for and against Monday and plan to render a decision at their Sept. 22 regular meeting.

Larry Kwarsick, a South Whidbey resident and private planner who argued Monday for those appealing the decision, said that the property’s lack of noise and visibility screening was concerning.

“A rural event center is a small-scale tourist use,” Kwarsick said, adding that for that reason the property owners should be “mandated to obscure” the weddings from the neighbors.

The appellants listed on the appeal are Zachary Wolfram, Nathan Buck and Karyle Kramer.

Attorney David Bricklin argued for property owners Kelly and Richard Russo that the farm is well suited for the use they are requesting and that the events would be good for the local economy.

In April of 2013, neighbors complained that the Russos were holding weddings on their farm without proper permitting, according to county documents.

The county issued the temporary use permit allowing 18 weddings in 2013. The permit was issued permanently by the county hearings examiner in June, but was appealed by neighbors who are concerned about the traffic, parking, noise and other issues associated with rural events.

In response to these types of concerns, Island County commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance in December that allowed the permitting for events on agricultural properties.

Planning Director David Wechner was approached by a group of residents at the time who asked the county to come up with a set of guidelines that would both allow for the events but protect adjacent properties.

Public comment was taken in November for the Wayfarer Farm application, with 11 comments in support of the permit and four in opposition, according to county documents.

The Russos intend to have no more than 120 guests at their events, which require a review process under the ordinance.