Hidden Creek Estates hears wedding bells, but some neighbors fear noise
Kerry & Dude Frank say their property on White School Road is perfect for weddings and special events. Some of their neighbors disagree.
The owners of Hidden Creek Estates, a wedding venue at 13276 White School Road, are asking the Village of Roscoe to annex their property, changing the zoning from Agricultural to Public/Conservancy, and to approve special use permits for a restaurant, bar/tavern, and a single-family residence. They also want a variance for a parking lot, waiving the requirement for curb and gutter, pavement, and striping. The property is adjacent to Hidden Creek and Promontory Ridge.
Some neighbors have posted concerns, even a petition, on nextdoor.com, saying that the celebrations will bring in extra noise and traffic. Roscoe's Zoning Board of Appeals will review the variance requests on Wednesday, April 14, at 5:30 p.m. and will hold a public hearing on the annexation request on Tuesday, April 20, at 6:00 p.m.
According to the Hidden Creek Estates website, after Kerry & Dude Frank allowed a few friends and family to have weddings on their property, they decided it "was the perfect location to host weddings, special events, and community events." Originally, before the pandemic, they bought the property because they wanted to keep "30 acres of beautiful farm land" from being "torn down and turned into a subdivision," since "the property held 150 years of history, 2 miles of manicured trails, and provided income for a local farmer." The family wanted "to preserve the integrity of the grounds and its natural beauty and hoped to use it to give back to their community in some way."
The venue is located in a rural part of Roscoe Township, south of East Rockton Road, with no large businesses nearby. The Frank family is currently remodeling their old yellow barn so it can be used for events, and the venue already features a vintage cottage, offering experiences for families, couples and small groups, such as "three red, white, or sparkling wines, and cheese board for up to 6 people," "fresh flowers and champagne," "mimosas and pastries," or "a fun scavenger hunt for the whole family."
