"Just getting any heavy machinery out here is very, very expensive. We're not a corporation. We're a family using our savings to start a business," says Joshua Killeen. The wheelchair paths and fire suppression system, he estimates, would cost $50,000-70,000 to build. That would be in addition to $11,000 in permitting fees the county was requiring.
Nevertheless, he and his wife agreed to bring their property into compliance. To raise money for all the county-demanded fixes, the two started advertising, and taking deposits for, future wedding bookings.
During this time, the Killeens also started hosting "Wellness Wednesday" events on their property, which included a free yoga class, vegetarian potluck, and yard games for community members.
Their ads proved successful enough, Killeen says, that their business received around 100 inquiries within three months. People loved the potlucks too, with about 30 community members showing up each week.
"It was for the community to get together, and for us to bring yoga and wellness to a community that didn't have anything like this," he says. "We had 60-year-old men who never practiced yoga before and were living out in the woods, we had them coming to every single one of our classes because it made them feel so good and so healthy."
Development Services was less pleased.
County records show that officials kept a close eye on the weekly Facebook posts the Killeens made advertising their services and community events. Finally, in late August, Lane returned to the couple's property to serve them with a Notice of Violation."
https://reason.com/2020/05/26/county-threatens-fines-demands-expensive-alterations-from-arizona-couple-hosting-free-yoga-classes-and-potlucks-on-their-property/
Nevertheless, he and his wife agreed to bring their property into compliance. To raise money for all the county-demanded fixes, the two started advertising, and taking deposits for, future wedding bookings.
During this time, the Killeens also started hosting "Wellness Wednesday" events on their property, which included a free yoga class, vegetarian potluck, and yard games for community members.
Their ads proved successful enough, Killeen says, that their business received around 100 inquiries within three months. People loved the potlucks too, with about 30 community members showing up each week.
"It was for the community to get together, and for us to bring yoga and wellness to a community that didn't have anything like this," he says. "We had 60-year-old men who never practiced yoga before and were living out in the woods, we had them coming to every single one of our classes because it made them feel so good and so healthy."
Development Services was less pleased.
County records show that officials kept a close eye on the weekly Facebook posts the Killeens made advertising their services and community events. Finally, in late August, Lane returned to the couple's property to serve them with a Notice of Violation."
https://reason.com/2020/05/26/county-threatens-fines-demands-expensive-alterations-from-arizona-couple-hosting-free-yoga-classes-and-potlucks-on-their-property/