By Miles Layton

CAMDEN — The Camden County Board of Commissioners voted to grant a special use permit to Camden Fields Event Venue, allowing it to continue operating in South Mills, concluding a lengthy quasi-judicial hearing that highlighted a familiar debate in rural communities: how to protect private property rights and encourage small businesses while addressing concerns from neighboring residents.

File this story under Oh My God – the county almost screwed this business. Seriously! This guy did all the right things, building permits and spent lots of money to build this business, but it didn’t seem to be enough to suit the bureaucracy. Thank God that matter got all worked out, but wow!    

The permit request was necessary because Camden County only recently created a zoning classification for event venues, meaning businesses that had already begun operating needed formal approval to comply with the county’s Unified Development Ordinance.

After hearing testimony from county staff, the venue’s owner, a neighboring resident and a local fire chief, commissioners approved the permit with the understanding that conditions related to noise and operations would be put in place.

The decision allows Camden Fields Event Venue, located at 890 N.C. Highway 343 North, to continue hosting weddings and other gatherings on the property owned by Doug Mentzer and operated through Camden Fields Event Venue LLC.

Several commissioners indicated that supporting a locally owned business and respecting property rights weighed heavily in their decision.

“One the one hand we want to protect our businesses and help them progress,” said Commissioner Troy Leary, who chaired the hearing. “And we also have a duty to protect our residents and taxpayers.”

The photo shows Doug Mentzer, who co-owns Camden Fields Event Venue with his wife, Brenda, making his pitch to commissioners to convince them to grant the couple’s business a special use permit.

Subscribe — it’s free!

Planning staff raises concerns

County planner Hunter Munro presented the staff report on the application— a request for the approval of the special use permit for the wedding venue.  

The property consists of a 3.13-acre parcel located north of Geneva Baptist Church and surrounded primarily by farmland and homes.

“The zoning district of the subject parcel is working lands, where event venue use types are permitted via an approved special use permit,” Munro said.

Munro noted that the venue had been operating for the past few years but needed a permit after the county adopted new regulations.

“The applicant has been operating as his proposed use for a number of years, and this application is necessary to bring him into conformity with the unified development ordinance,” he said.

The new rules were adopted in 2025 after county leaders realized that the zoning ordinance did not specifically address event venues.

“In 2025 at the request of the board of commissioners, a text amendment creating an event venue use type was brought forth and approved,” Munro said.

Although the property meets zoning requirements, planning staff expressed concerns about its proximity to nearby homes.

“Staff has determined that although this site is within the working lands district and can be approved, due to the proximity of a neighborhood residential district… staff has determined that it is not in harmony with the area,” Munro said.

The department also received complaints about noise during some events.

“Staff has received complaints regarding the noise generating during events, and it is the planning department’s judgment that the proposed use is not in harmony,” he said.

Staff therefore recommended denying the permit, though Munro noted that commissioners could approve it with conditions.

Owner describes family investment

Mentzer told commissioners the venue represents years of work by his family and a business meant to serve the community.

Doug Mentzer and his wife Brenda, are the owners of Camden Fields event venue. 

Mentzer said he originally approached the county’s planning office about the concept three years ago.

“I shared with her the vision of Camden Fields and what we wanted to do for our community,” he said.

According to Mentzer, planning staff encouraged the idea during early discussions.

“Amber took the time. I showed up unannounced, and she took the time to sit with me,” Mentzer said.

He said county staff outlined a path that would allow the project to move forward.

“Amber had laid out a path for us to make this work,” he said.

The property required extensive renovation before it could host events.

“Literally every day except for maybe three days in the entire year we were over there doing work,” Mentzer said. “It truly was a family adventure.”

Today, the venue hosts weddings, church gatherings, parties and cultural celebrations.

“We’ve experienced several instances where clients have booked with us once, loved the venue, and have booked for second events,” Mentzer said.

He said the venue fills a need in Camden County, where event spaces are limited.

“There is a need for this in our community,” he said.

Mentzer also argued that the business supports other local entrepreneurs.

“When we have events, who are the caterers, the photographers, the DJs, the event planners, the cake makers?” he said. “All these people are local business people that we’re providing opportunity for them to make a living.”

Efforts to address noise

Mentzer acknowledged that noise from some events has been a concern for neighbors.

“I heard about some complaints for the noise. Believe me, that’s a concern of mine as well,” he said.

The venue already limits music to certain hours.

“We have a cutoff at ten o’clock that the noise stops,” Mentzer said.

He said he purchased equipment to measure sound levels during events.

“I went out and bought a sound level meter and I’ve been doing sound surveys on the property during events,” he said.

One reading near the property line measured about 45 decibels.

However, he admitted that a few events had produced higher levels.

“There have been other events where it was much louder,” Mentzer said.

Two particularly loud events led to changes in the venue’s policies.

“Two of them were extremely loud and they’ve been banned,” he said.

Mentzer said he is also exploring ways to further reduce sound leaving the building.

“We’re looking at ways to reduce the sound,” he said.

Among the possibilities are landscaping and structural barriers designed to absorb sound.

Mentzer emphasized that he hopes to maintain positive relationships with neighbors.

“We want to be friends with our neighbors,” he said. “We believe that.”

Neighbor raises concerns

Patricia Watson, who lives adjacent to the property, testified about the impact of events on her household. She said music from events can be heard inside her home.

“When there has been a DJ playing in the event building, the music has been heard on these properties,” Watson said.

Watson also said events often occur several days in a row during busy periods.

“These events have been held Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the music has been heard for hours during these parties,” she said.

She argued that the venue threatens the quiet character of the neighborhood.

“This business will be detrimental to the 13 homes where families have lived in a quiet rural atmosphere,” Watson said.

However, Watson told commissioners that if the venue remains open, restrictions should be imposed.

“Amplification of sound inside the building should stop at nine instead of ten p.m.,” she said.

Fire chief supports venue

South Mills Fire Chief Tommy Banks spoke in favor of the business, saying it has not created problems for emergency services.

“I don’t see this venue being any kind of public safety issue,” Banks said.

He also said the venue has not caused traffic accidents in the area.

“To my knowledge I don’t think we’ve had a single wreck because of that venue down there,” he said.

Banks argued that Camden County should support local businesses.

“South Mills needs more of these businesses,” he said.

Commissioners weigh growth and rural life

During deliberations, commissioners acknowledged the challenge of balancing growth with preserving the rural lifestyle valued by many residents.

Commissioner Randy Krainiak said he views businesses like the event venue as an asset to the county.

“I’ve always encouraged this type of business in Camden County,” he said. “I kind of think it’s one of the positive things that we could have in this community.”

Commissioner Sissy Aydlett said the issue illustrated the tension between development and residential concerns.

“You see both sides of it,” she said. “It certainly is a wonderful thing for our county to have.”

At the same time, Aydlett acknowledged the challenges faced by nearby homeowners.

“I know that has to be hard to live two hundred and ninety feet away,” she said.

County Attorney Arizaga-Womble reminded commissioners that any conditions attached to the permit must be clearly defined.

“The board has to be really specific in conditions that they attach so you know what you need to do and staff knows what they need to expect,” she said.

Ultimately, commissioners chose to grant the permit, allowing Camden Fields to continue operating while working with the county on measures intended to minimize impacts on nearby homes.

For Mentzer and his family, the decision meant their years of work building the venue could continue.

For Camden County officials, the vote underscored a broader priority — supporting local entrepreneurship while ensuring rural communities remain good places for families to live.