COEUR d'ALENE - Couples might want to plan their big day in the city.

Following a hearing on Thursday night, the Kootenai County commissioners voted unanimously that a proposed wedding venue on Stateline Road doesn't fit any use in the rural zone, and can't have a conditional permit to operate there.

The commissioners, charged by a court remand to determine if a wedding and event facility is allowed under county code to run in a rural zone, agreed that such an indoor facility doesn't fit any existing uses, including a resort use.

"There is no appropriate use," said Commissioner Todd Tondee after closing the hearing at the county Administration Building.

This was a red light for the proposal that Dave and Beth Tysdal had put before the county to use their century-old barn, sitting in a rural zone at 3866 Stateline Road, to host large events for profit.

The commissioners had approved a conditional use permit for the project in 2009, which was appealed by a group of Stateline neighbors concerned about disruptions to their remote environment.

A First District judge remanded the case in November 2010, with the findings that the county's classification of the project as a resort was incorrect. The commissioners were charged with determining the correct use for the project, if one existed.

The officials had a few options on the table, including amending the definition of a use in the rural zone to allow for such a project.

Commissioner Dan Green said he was opposed to making a sweeping code change over a site-specific case, especially when the county has just hired a consultant to rewrite all the county development ordinances.

"I'm not a huge fan of drafting legislation when we're in the process of, we're finally there (in rewriting ordinances), and it may get changed in this next process," Green said.

Commissioner Jai Nelson added that she didn't like the idea of burdening county staff with a text amendment when they face the task of rewriting all ordinances over the next two years.

"We're just on the cusp of completely new ordinances, not based on uses, but standards. A completely new direction," Nelson said.

The commissioners could have also created a whole new use to accommodate the project, which they rejected for the same reason.

The remaining option was deeming that the proposed project does not fit any use at all, and can't be allowed in the rural zone.

Many of the roughly 50 who attended the hearing applauded the decision.

Neighbors had given hours of testimony about their fears of a nearby event center violating their rural lifestyles, by encouraging noise, traffic and public drinking.

"They (the commissioners) made a good choice in the interest of Kootenai County," said Jay Fromkin, who owns property adjacent to the Tysdals' barn.

Sandy Young with Verdis planning company, representing the Tysdals, declined to comment on Thursday night.

The commissioners did agree that the project would fit in a commercial zone.

The Tysdals could apply for a zone change if they want to pursue the project.