6. ) Memo-RuralEventFacility 11.4.15
Memorandum
To: Scandia Planning
Commission
Reference: Rural Event Facility Ordinance—
Question about Proposed Facility
Copies To: Kristina Handt, City
Administrator
Brenda Eklund, City Clerk
Project No.: 15745.000
From: Sherri Buss, RLA AICP,
Planner
Routing:
Date: October 26, 2015
City staff were contacted by a non-profit organization that is considering developing a facility on
a parcel in the General Rural District that is similar to the uses defined as an Agritourism
Enterprise or Rural Event Facility. The use would include a “hobby farm” that would offer rural
educational experiences to children several days each week. The children would not stay
overnight, but the organization envisions modifying an accessory building on the property to add
a kitchen and bathrooms to accommodate daytime use, and potentially adding an accessory
dwelling for a caretaker. Based on the multiple questions from the organization so far, they may
expand on their ideas for the types of rural education and experiences offered at the facility.
Our current use definitions define both uses as commercial or for-profit enterprises:
Agritourism Enterprise: A commercial enterprise on a working farm or plant nursery in
which the public or invited groups participate in recreational or educational activities.
These activities must be related to agriculture or natural resources and incidental to the
farm operation. This term includes farm tours, hay rides corn mazes, and classes related
to agricultural products or skills, and similar uses. Campgrounds or overnight camping
shall not be considered an Agritourism Enterprise. (Requires a CUP in the General
Rural District, but no performance standards for this use are included in the
Development Code.)
Rural Event Facility: A facility that operates on a for-profit basis to host outdoor or indoor
gatherings that do not exceed twelve (12) hours in duration. The gatherings may include,
but are not limited to, events such as weddings or other ceremonies, dances, festivals,
picnics or any other gathering of a similar nature that the City determines to be
consistent with and supportive of the rural and historic character of the community.
Gatherings may not include activities that include the discharge of firearms, competitions
among motorized vehicles, or other events that the City determines to be incompatible
with the community’s character or intent of this chapter. (Requires and IUP in the
General Rural District.)
Sign Regulations Memo Page 2 November 4, 2015
Scandia Planning Commission
I cannot remember if we discussed non-profit users in relation to these definitions. It would be
helpful to have an information discussion about the proposed use at the November meeting if
the City wants to consider the proposed use:
Did the Commission intend that permits would only be required for commercial uses of
this type? Should an Agritourism Enterprise or Rural Event Facility operated by a
nonprofit organization require a permit? Should the City modify one or both definitions to
permit nonprofits as facility operators?
Should the use be considered as an Agritourism Enterprise or Rural Event Facility? The
educational focus may be a better fit with the Agritourism Enterprise, but there are
currently no performance standards for this use.
Should the Agritourism Enterprise use have the same permit and performance standards
as the Rural Event Facility? Do we need standards in the Development Code for this
use? Or should the use be combined with the Rural Event Facility?