Agritourism Draft for 1.5.16CITY OF SCANDIA
ORDINANCE NO.: 166
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 122, THE SCANDIA
DEVELOPMENT CODE, CHAPTER 1, SECTION 4 RULES AND DEFINTIONS
AND CHAPTER 2, ADDING SECTION 4.35 REGARDING STANDARDS FOR
AGRITOURISM ENTERPRISES
The City Council of the City of Scandia, Washington County, Minnesota hereby ordains:
Section 1. Amendment. Ordinance No. 122, the City of Scandia Development Code
("Development Code", or "Code"), Chapter 1, Section 4 Rules and Definitions and
Chapter Two, Section 4, adding Rural Event Facility, shall be amended to read as
follows:
CHAPTER ONE, SECTION 4.0 RULES AND DEFINITIONS
4.2 Definitions.
(10) Agritourism Enterprise: A commercial or nonprofit 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.
(256) Rural Event Facility: A facility that operates on a for-profit or nonprofit
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.
CHAPTER TWO, SECTION 4 -- STANDARDS FOR USES
4.35 Agritourism Enterprise. Agritourism Enterprises shall comply with all of the
following standards:
(1) Agritourism Enterprises shall support the rural and historic character of the City, shall
be designed and operated in a manner that is compatible with Scandia's rural and
small-town character, and shall not negatively impact the community or neighboring
properties.
(2) Permitted Districts and Uses.
(A) Agritourism Enterprises are permitted in the Agricultural Core (AG C),
General Rural (GR), and Village Neighborhood (VN) Districts, and
shall be accessory uses to the primary use of the property for
Agriculture or a Single -Family Residence.
(3) Permit requirements.
(A) An Agritourism Enterprise is allowed in the AG C, GR, and VN districts if the
Enterprise holds up to 4 events annually with no more than 100 attendees at
each event. The Agritourism Enterprise shall obtain a Special Event Permit
for each event per the City's permit requirements.
(B) An Agritourism Enterprise in the AG C, GR and VN districts shall obtain a
Conditional Use Permit (CUP)/Interim Use Permit (IUP) if the enterprise will
hold more than 4 events annually that exceed 100 attendees at each event.
(4) Application requirements—CUP/IUP. An application for a CUP/IUP for an
Agritourism Enterprise shall be accompanied by the following information:
(A) A master plan of the entire property where the Agritourism Enterprise
is proposed, drawn to scale (minimum 1:200) and including the parcel
boundaries, address and legal description, owner's name and signature,
topography, location of existing structures on the site, setbacks, existing
screening from adjacent properties, existing driveway locations and
roadway access, existing parking, individual sewage treatment systems
and well locations.
(B) A detailed plan drawn to scale (minimum 1:100) including the
proposed areas that will be used for the activities associated with the
Agritourism Enterprise use, including the buildings and structures
(existing and proposed), outdoor event areas, setbacks, driveways and
access, parking areas, sewage treatment systems and well locations, and
all other proposed facilities.
(C) Events—the application shall include complete information about
events that may be held at the site. Information identifying the types of
events, estimating the number of attendees per event, number of events
per year, onsite vendors, number of employees, proposed hours of
operation, parking facilities, sanitary facilities, lighting, sound
amplification, temporary structures/tents, signage, screening, solid
waste management, security, and landscaping. The application shall
also identify emergency vehicle access routes and proposed locations(s)
for first aid facilities. As deemed necessary, the City may restrict the
operation of the facility.
(D) A Transportation Management Plan—the City may require the
applicant to submit a Transportation Management Plan based on the
number and size of events that are proposed.
(E) Grading Plan—if the Agritourism Enterprise includes construction of a
new event site(s), buildings, parking lots or other structures, the
applicant shall submit a grading, drainage and erosion control plan.
The plan must meet the requirements of the Watershed District and the
City's Development Code.
(F) Landscape Plan—the application shall include an existing and proposed
landscape plan. The City may require landscape elements to buffer the
facility from neighboring uses and to provide screening.
(5) Agritourism Enterprises shall comply with all of the following standards
(A) Agritourism Enterprises shall be located on a site of at least 5/10 acres in size.
(B) Events shall be limited to a maximum 200/300 persons.
(C) Adequate utilities, including sewage disposal, must be available on the
site. The facility may utilize permanent or portable facilities, or a
combination of permanent and portable facilities. Any on-site sewage
treatment facilities needed shall be installed under a permit issued by
Washington County. The facility shall also provide supplemental
portable septic and water facilities for events as required by the City.
(D) The Agritourism Enterprise shall have direct access from a public
roadway.
(E) The Agritourism Enterprise shall provide on-site parking, sufficient to
handle all guest, staff, vendor, and owner vehicles. No parking for the
facility shall be permitted on public streets.
(F) Sound amplification of ceremonies or educational events only is
permitted. Ceremonies include formal acts or observances that are part
of an event, such as an awards presentation, acknowledgment of a
significant event, or similar observance. Sound amplification of
ceremonies or educational events may include amplification of voices
and music that are specifically scheduled as part of the event. No other
sound associated with an event, such as parties or celebrations
associated with, preceding or following the ceremony, may be
amplified. Events shall not generate noise that unreasonably annoys,
disturbs, or endangers the comfort or peace of any persons, or precludes
their enjoyment of property or affects their property's value.
(G) The Agritourism Enterprise use of the site shall be located at least
50/100 feet from the boundaries of adjoining properties. The City may
require screening of outdoor event areas. If the facility has a license to
serve alcoholic beverages, a designated outdoor area shall be identified
for consumption of alcoholic beverages that must meet the 100 -foot
setback requirement.
(H) Events may not begin before 9 AM and shall cease by 10 PM. All
amplified sound shall conclude by 10 PM. All guests shall be off the
site by 10:30 PM.
(I) No more than one event shall be scheduled on any calendar date.
(J) Permanent signs for the Agritourism Enterprise shall conform to the
Development Code requirements. One sign that identifies the facility is
permitted with a maximum size of 32 square feet. In addition, one
temporary sign for identification of each event at the facility shall be
allowed for each street entrance to the rural event facility. The sign
may not be placed more than 10 days before the event and shall be
removed within 24 hours of the end of the event. The sign may not
exceed ten (10) square feet in area and shall require a sign permit.
(K) The Agritourism Enterprise must comply with all rules and regulations
of Federal, State, County and Local agencies.
(L) The City may impose conditions related to landscaping, access,
security, sanitary sewer, liability or other insurance requirements, and
other conditions as deemed necessary.
(M) The Interim Use Permit shall terminate at a date specified in the permit
or with a change in ownership of the property where the rural event
facility is located.
(N) The City may schedule reviews of the Interim Use Permit or Annual
Operating Permit for the rural event facility as needed.
Section 2. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in full force and effect upon its
adoption and summary publication as required by law.
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Scandia this day of ,
2016.
Randall Simonson, Mayor
ATTEST:
Neil Soltis, Administrator/Clerk