Wapiti store receives permission to open kiosk

Commission gets earful about permitting process

Posted 6/24/21

Wapiti’s lone gas station and convenience store is expanding its summertime services, adding a new kiosk or food truck to serve up food and drinks.

Initially, the Red Barn plans to sell …

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Wapiti store receives permission to open kiosk

Commission gets earful about permitting process

Posted

Wapiti’s lone gas station and convenience store is expanding its summertime services, adding a new kiosk or food truck to serve up food and drinks.

Initially, the Red Barn plans to sell soft-serve ice cream and snow cones from the truck or building, but it could eventually add coffee, snacks, hot dogs, sandwiches, nachos and other treats. The new addition will only operate during the tourist season, from Memorial Day to Labor Day, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Red Barn owners Fred and Manda Siebert told county officials that the new operation won’t change much at the long-running business.

“We already sell soft ice cream, only during the summer months. So basically we would be moving the machine,” the Sieberts wrote when they submitted their plans in March. “We don’t expect to impact anything or anyone.”

Park County commissioners gave the idea a final stamp of approval last week, signing off on a special use permit for the additional activity. But a couple supporters of the Wapiti store questioned whether the planning and zoning process was even necessary.

“I feel like I’ve just wasted 20 minutes of my life,” resident Phil Campbell said after planning staffers presented their 11-page report on the project.

“How many of you guys have had to deal with government taking your time away from your job?” he asked commissioners, adding that the Sieberts had spent hundreds of dollars, plus time and energy on the county’s permitting process.

“What these people [the Sieberts] have proposed is something that is hardly going to change,” Campbell said. He suggested the planning and zoning department’s budget be halved, “so they wouldn’t have time for these shenanigans and chasing people around.”

Neighboring landowner Tamara Young — who obtained a special use permit last year to build a new RV park on the other side of U.S. Highway 14/16/20 — also complained.

“I don’t think you know what it is like to go through the process,” Young told commissioners, adding, “Your planning and zoning director and your planning and zoning committee are the ones that make it super hard.”

In the case of the Sieberts and the Red Barn, “if you make it hard on them for every little thing … they will end up selling and leaving and we will end up with someone who has money for lawyers and engineers” and who might shutter the critical store in the winter months, Young said.

Commission Chairman Lee Livingston defended the county’s intentions — including to note that the current regulations were not written by the current commissioners.

“They were put in place by folks a long time ago, so I don’t think we’re trying to impede their ability to do business,” Livingston said, adding that, “I’m trying to make it as easy as possible.”

Part of the county’s review process raised concerns about the Red Barn’s septic system. Planning staff said the current system was never approved for commercial use and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality said it appeared to be “inadequate” for the four-bedroom residence and business. While the Sieberts provide two or three portable toilets outside the store, they said 50 to 60 customers have been using the indoor restroom on a daily basis.

“We have NEVER had an issue with [the] septic tank coming close to capacity,” the Sieberts wrote in their application.

However, under the conditions of the new permit, the business will be required to close the store’s restrooms to the public and instead direct customers to the portable toilets. Any water that’s brought from the store and then used in the food truck or kiosk cannot be disposed of in the septic system, either. Planning documents suggested the water could be hauled away, but if that’s the case, “they’re going to be hauling gray water all day,” said Commissioner Joe Tilden. “So I don’t understand how this is going to work.”

“If they [the Sieberts] have concerns, we could probably work with them,” responded planner Kim Dillivan.

The idea for a food truck or kiosk at the Red Barn is not a new concept: In 2002, Park County officials issued the business’ prior owners a permit to operate a seasonal hot dog stand — dubbed “Wapiti Wiener Works” — in the same spot. (The Sieberts are not planning to use that name.) As for the Red Barn itself, it’s been in operation since 1969, located about 20 miles west of Cody and 2 miles west of the Shoshone National Forest boundary.

After the commission approved the permit, Livingston noted that the county soon plans to update its land use plan — and he encouraged those in attendance to participate in the process and provide input.

“We want folks to be bringing ideas forward,” he said.

As he left the meeting room, Campbell thanked the commissioners for their work.

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