Questions over zoning fairness and board procedures have reignited debate across Stone County.

A citizen-led petition effort, multiple ongoing court cases, and newly surfaced procedural questions have focused public attention on the structure and operation of Stone County's Planning & Zoning Commission.

Crane.news is based inside the City of Crane, where county zoning regulations do not apply. This report is not written from personal impact, but from a neutral review of public records, court filings, and county documents affecting unincorporated Stone County.

Although city residents are not directly regulated by county zoning, the policies of the commission can still affect future city boundary growth, school tax revenue, and residents who may later buy or build outside city limits.

The 'End Planning and Zoning in Stone County' Facebook group, created in July 2025, has become the organizing hub for petition efforts. The group, which now has over 1,400 members, began circulating signature forms in August and frequently shares updates, meeting information, and examples of zoning disputes submitted by county residents.

Petition Seeks Vote on Dissolving P&Z

A petition circulating since early August seeks to place a question on the April 2026 ballot regarding whether Stone County Planning & Zoning should be dissolved. Organizers say they have gathered the required number of signatures and plan to submit the petition to the county by December 9, 2025, which will begin the verification process.

The petition applies only to unincorporated Stone County. Cities such as Crane, Hurley, Galena, Reeds Spring, Kimberling City, and Branson West have their own zoning or municipal ordinances and would not be affected by the proposal.

However, all registered Stone County voters - including those living inside city limits - are eligible to sign the petition and vote on the question if it appears on the April ballot.

32 Zoning-Related Cases Active in 2025

A search of Missouri Case.net shows 32 active civil injunction cases listing the Stone County Planning & Zoning Director as plaintiff that had court activity during 2025. Some of these cases may have been filed earlier, while others appear to be new filings.

The cases involve matters such as:

• use of campers or temporary dwellings

• placement of sheds or accessory buildings without permits

• multiple dwellings on a single property

• religious or commercial use inside commercial zones without further approval

Several defendants cite financial hardship, unclear processing, or selective enforcement in their responses.

Organizer Perspective

There are actually a lot of steps before anything would 'end'. The only way it could ultimately happen is by gathering enough valid signatures to get the issue back on the ballot and letting the people of Stone County decide, not just a handful of officials. One of the biggest frustrations many of us have is that people in rural areas should have more leniency when it comes to how they use their own land. I'll give you my own example: we had to go to court and spend over $13,000 just to be able to keep our livelihood (machinery my husband uses for work) on our property. Meanwhile, there’s a salvage yard/car dealership next door (which I personally don’t have any issue with), but how is it fair that we were told no while others weren’t? We did win our case, but it shouldn’t have come to that. The same standard isn’t being applied equally across the county. And if Planning & Zoning were to stay, it would need to be completely overhauled. The current administration would need to be removed, and leadership should be elected. I know not everyone sees it the same way, but I just hope people can understand why many of us are pushing to get this on the ballot again so everyone has a fair say, and so the rules are applied consistently and fairly across the board.

— Angie Youngblood, petition organizer (Facebook, Everything Kimberling City group)

Response From County Staff

The commissioners are the ones who set the rules. If anyone has a problem with the rules that planning and zoning are enforcing, reaching out to your commissioners and expressing your concern is your right. Ending planning and zoning is how the county would end up with junk yards next to your daycares, pig farms next to your homes in the north, and having nightly rentals next to your homes in the south. Do people think that others don’t abide by the regulations set by planning and zoning now? If you abolish it they definitely won’t abide by any set by the state. How silly. If you have questions about the county’s regulations, call the P&Z office.

— Kay Harrison, Stone County P&Z staff member (Facebook comment, Everything Kimberling City group)

Example Case: Former Church Property Near Crane

Case No. 25SN-CC00193 involves property at 42132 State Highway 413, where the county filed for a permanent injunction in May 2025 to stop its use as a church. The property owner, Silver Hammer Construction, LLC, denied wrongdoing and cited federal religious-use protections under RLUIPA. According to court filings, Planning & Zoning Director Joy Wilson signed the petition, which seeks a $500-per-day fine for alleged zoning violations. Silver Hammer Construction, LLC no longer owns the property, and the church that had been leasing the space has since relocated to a different building inside Crane city limits. The original Highway 413 property is now under new ownership.

The case remains pending in Stone County Circuit Court.

Voting and Quorum Issues

Public Planning & Zoning minutes from several recent meetings include vote totals such as 6-5, 7-4, and 8-0. At least one meeting recorded only eight members present, yet multiple votes were taken.

In a Sunshine Law response, the Stone County attorney confirmed that the Planning & Zoning Commission has 19 seats and that a quorum requires 10 members.

Under standard parliamentary rules, votes taken without a quorum are not considered valid. According to petition organizer, Nicole Mayne, at least one case from the September 9, 2025 meeting has already been rescheduled for rehearing due to the quorum issue.

While quorum determines whether a meeting can be held, motions still require a majority vote - defined as half of the members present, plus one - to pass. Records show that in at least two meetings where 12 members were present, motions passed on 6–5 votes, short of the seven required for a valid majority. County staff have not publicly addressed those discrepancies.

Residents wishing to appeal a Planning & Zoning decision to the county's Board of Adjustments (BOA) must pay a $300 filing fee, a cost citizens have described as prohibitive.

County Leadership Change

Former Presiding Commissioner Mark Maples resigned without stated reason on July 15, 2025. He was later replaced by Gordon Weathers, who was confirmed as Presiding Commissioner by Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe.

The current commission consists of:

• Presiding Commissioner: Gordon Weathers

• Northern District Commissioner: Hank Smyth

• Southern District Commissioner: Wayne Blades

Crane.news reached out to Presiding Commissioner Gordon Weathers and Commissioners Hank Smyth and Wayne Blades for comment. As of publication, the commission has acknowledged receipt of questions and indicated that a joint response is being prepared.

What Happens Next

Dec. 9, 2025  | Petition submitted to county commission
Early 2026    | Clerk begins signature verification
April 2026    | Possible ballot date if certified
Ongoing       | 32 zoning cases remain active in court

Community Input

Crane.news welcomes comments or firsthand experiences related to Stone County Planning & Zoning - whether positive, neutral, or critical. Residents, property owners, and business operators are encouraged to share their stories or perspectives for possible inclusion in future coverage.

Submissions can be sent via Facebook Messenger, to support@crane.news, or through the contact form at www.crane.news/submit.

Documents & Sources

Where possible, Crane.news links directly to original county or Case.net records. Screenshots are used only when originals are unavailable and have been redacted for privacy. Screenshots of Planning & Zoning minutes referenced here were shared publicly by petition organizer Nicole Mayne through the End Planning and Zoning in Stone County Facebook group.

Editor's Note

This article is part of an ongoing series examining public records and citizen petitions in Stone County. Additional responses or documents received after publication will be added as updates to this story.