Douglas County approves event center conversion at Gabriel's site

The Douglas County Board on January 13, 2026 approved Use By Special Review US2025-009 to allow a portion of the former Gabriel's restaurant parcel in Sedalia to be redeveloped as an event center operated by local owners. The board's approval came with a series of conditions that must be satisfied before the project can move to final plat recordation and opening.

Approval followed standard public hearing procedures and staff recommendations. The conditional permit requires the applicants to secure septic-use permits and to address site-specific engineering and public-safety conditions identified by county staff. Those conditions must be resolved and permits obtained before the county will record the final plat, a procedural step that clears the way for construction, occupancy and business operations.

The proposed conversion will reuse an existing commercial building to host weddings, private events and community gatherings in the Sedalia area. Reusing the Gabriel's structure reduces the need for new construction and preserves an established commercial footprint, but the board emphasized that infrastructure and safety controls must meet county standards for assembly uses.

The decision illustrates how Douglas County balances local economic reuse with regulatory oversight. Use-by-special-review approvals of this type enable activities that are not allowed as a matter of right in a zoning district while giving the county leverage to attach conditions addressing traffic, wastewater, stormwater and emergency access. Requiring septic permits and engineering approvals targets the most immediate public health and safety concerns associated with higher-occupancy event venues in semi-rural settings.

Local impacts are likely to be mixed. Event operations can provide new revenue for Sedalia-area vendors, increase demand for local hospitality services and expand options for community gatherings. At the same time, nearby residents may see increased traffic on county roads, greater demand on septic and wastewater systems, and periodic noise from large gatherings. The county conditions aim to limit those externalities by ensuring infrastructure is sized and configured to handle the change in use.

Next steps fall to the applicants, who must complete permitting and satisfy the board's site and safety conditions prior to final plat recordation. Only after those requirements are met can the county record the plat and allow the event center to open.

For residents, the approval means a new local venue could appear in Sedalia, but one that will not operate until county permitting and engineering standards are met. Those interested in the project should monitor Douglas County planning records or contact the county planning office to track permit status and any subsequent filings related to the site.