4.d 1 PCMemoAgritourismEnterprises 7.5.16
Memorandum
To: Scandia Planning
Commission
Reference: Agritourism Use Ordinance Draft
for Public Hearing
Copies To: Neil Soltis, City
Administrator
Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Project No.: 16023.000
From: Sherri Buss, RLA AICP,
Planner
Routing:
Date: June 20, 2016
The draft Agritourism Use Ordinance for the public hearing scheduled on July 5 is attached.
The draft is based on Commission discussion and recommendations at previous meetings. It
includes some changes based on comments from the City Administrator.
A summary of the draft and recent changes includes:
The definition of Agritourism Use emphasizes the educational and recreational aspects
of the use, and the necessary ties to agriculture. This distinguishes it from the Rural
Event Facility Use, which applies to uses that are focused on events.
The Agritourism Use would be allowed in 4 districts, without a zoning permit, as long as
it met the use definition, did not use outdoor amplified sound, and did not hold more than
a few (5 is suggested in the draft) “Special Events” each year. (The City Administrator
suggested the clarification of “outdoor” amplification of sound that has been added
throughout the draft.)
If the Agritourism Use wanted to hold occasional “special events” or events that use
outdoor amplified sound, the ordinance requires that it obtain a Special Event Permit.
Agritourism Uses that regularly used outdoor amplified sound for activities, or that hold a
significant number of Special Events (6 or more Special Events in a year is suggested in
the draft) would be classified as Rural Event Facilities, and would need to meet the
ordinance requirements of that use.
Item (3) includes further clarification of private events that emphasizes the family and
occasional nature of the events that are exempt from permit requirements. This is based
on the City’s discussion with Jeff Gacek about his proposed event use that would have
been “by invitation” events that are regular, rather than occasional in nature.
The Planning Commission will listen to comments on the draft ordinance at its meeting on July
5, and may recommend the ordinance to the Council for approval.