ROBERTSDALE, Alabama—The owners of the bay-front location where much of Country Music TV’s “Sweet Home Alabama” dating show was filmed last year got rebuffed Monday, when a county zoning board took less than five minutes after a two-hour-long hearing to rule against their appeal of an order shutting down their wedding and event operation known as “Dorgan’s Inn.”

A Baldwin County Zoning Board of Adjustment ruled unanimously to uphold the November order of Planning Director Vince Jackson, who determined that Billy and Patty Dorgan’s property in Point Clear was being used for commercial activity in violation of the county residential zoning designation.

“The most significant concern involves weddings and other large events which are hosted at the premises on a frequent basis,” Jackson stated in his Nov. 18 letter to the Dorgans, which ordered them to discontinue the operation within a month. “According to the complaints, the events often include 200-300 guests.”

After an investigation that included two trips of his own to observe the events, Jackson determined that the Dorgans were engaged in a commercial enterprise in a residentially zoned neighborhood. The Dorgans appealed that order in December, staying its enforcement.

The appeal was set for February, but the Dorgans’ attorney sought a continuance, which moved the case to March 12. On the weekend of March 3, an event was held at the Point Clear site with overflow parking requiring an adjacent lot the Dorgans had purchased last year for that purpose, according to statements at the hearing.

The Dorgans have 15 days from Monday’s decision to appeal the ruling to county circuit court. Both Billy Morgan and his attorney Chad Marchand declined comment immediately after the hearing about the board’s decision or whether an appeal was planned.

More than 75 people turned out on a rainy Monday afternoon in Robertsdale for the hearing, which packed the meeting room. Marchand, the only person to speak on behalf of the Dorgans, argued that his clients were not engaged in a commercial enterprise. He also contended that Jackson’s decision was “arbitrary and capricious” by failing to set out any guidelines for where the occasional hosting of weddings on private property ended and a commercial wedding and event center business began.

More than a dozen people, including attorneys for Point Clear resident Albert Key and the local property owners association whose complaints initiated the zoning case, spoke in favor of upholding the planning director’s decision. The crowd applauded loudly when the board announced its ruling in their favor.

That decision effectively shuts down the Dorgan’s Inn operation, pending any appeal, or lack of enforcement should the Dorgans continue their business despite the ruling, which some residents believe might happen.

“The board made the right decision and Mr. Jackson made the right decision,” Key said after the hearing. “And the only thing that remains to be done is that Mr. Jackson needs to enforce his order. There should be no further stays.”

Key said if the Dorgans have any more events at the Point Clear location, local residents will ask Jackson to enforce his order.

“If they appeal (to circuit court), we will take the position that that doesn’t stay his order,” Key said. “I don’t know whether we will be successful (with that).”

During the hearing, several residents claimed that traffic during the events posed safety concerns, as grounds for not allowing a stay of enforcement during any appeal.

In a statement issued yesterday, Key said: “We feel the frequency of the traffic congestion on our two-lane road, the road crossings by those attending the events, not only the arrivals, but particularly the departures late at night, having been served alcoholic beverages, poses a significant safety hazard in our neighborhood.”