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5.PCMemoAgritourismUse12 3 15 (003) Memorandum To: Scandia Planning Commission Reference: Agritourism Use and Performance Standards Copies To: Neil Soltis, City Administrator Brenda Eklund, City Clerk Project No.: 15745.000 From: Sherri Buss, RLA AICP, Planner Routing: Date: November 23, 2015 Agritourism Enterprise--Background and Definition City staff were contacted by a non-profit organization that is considering developing a facility on a parcel in the General Rural District that best fits the use defined as an Agritourism Enterprise in the Development Code. The use would include continued operation of the “hobby farm” on the property, while offering rural educational experiences to children several days each week and open houses for parents or other guests during daytime and evening hours at the farm. 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 definition for Agritourism Enterprises specifies that it is a commercial enterprise:  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. (This use requires a CUP in the General Rural District, but no performance standards for this use are included in the Development Code.) The Commission agreed in October that the proposed non-profit use is consistent with the community’s rural character and interest in permitting long-term agricultural uses. If the City wishes to permit this use for nonprofit organizations, it would need to amend the definition to do so. There are no performance standards in the Development Code for Agritourism Enterprises. The Commission should consider whether specific standards should be added for this use. Agritourism Enterprise Use Page 2 December 3, 2015 Scandia Planning Commission Requirements and Standards A copy of the current Rural Event Facility ordinance is attached as a starting point for the discussion on December 3. Districts and Permits The Agritourism Enterprise and Rural Event Facility uses are both currently allowed in the Agriculture Core (AG C) District and General Rural (GR) Districts. Agritourism Enterprises are also permitted in the Village Neighborhood (VN) District, but Rural Event Facilities are not. The Rural Event Facility ordinance specifies that the use must be accessory to the primary use of the parcel in the two districts where it is permitted. The Agritourism Enterprise use is permitted with a CUP in both districts. The Rural Event Facility use is permitted with an IUP. The Rural Event Facility requires an Annual Operating Permit (AOP) in addition to the IUP. This was included based on concerns that operations of the event facility may have negative impacts on neighbors, and the City may wish to review the permit compliance each year. The Commission may discuss if a CUP or IUP is the appropriate permit for an Agritourism Enterprise, and if an AOP is needed if the focus of the facility is on educational or recreational activities rather than events. The Commission should discuss the appropriate districts and permits for the Agritourism use, and whether it would be an accessory use, similar to the Rural Event Facility. Application Requirements The Rural Event Facility use requires that the applicant submit a significant amount of information with the application, including:  Existing and proposed plan for the site  Rural Events Plan detailing the proposed events, site facilities, and use  Transportation Management Plan  Grading Plan (new facilities)  Landscape Plan, including potential buffering or screening for neighboring properties The Commission should discuss the information needed to evaluate a proposed Agritourism Enterprise use. Performance Standards The performance standards for the Rural Event Facility assume that the facility may schedule events for up to 300 people. The Commission may consider whether the same limit or a different limit would be required for an Agritourism Enterprise. Other standards for Rural Event Facilities include:  Adequate facilities, including sewage disposal Agritourism Enterprise Use Page 3 December 3, 2015 Scandia Planning Commission  The facility should have direct access from a public roadway  Sufficient on-site parking  Sound amplification of ceremonies only  Setbacks—at least 100 feet from boundaries of adjoining properties  Location of service for alcoholic beverages  Hours of operation  Number of events  Signs  Comply with Federal, State, County and local regulations  City may impose additional conditions  IUP expires with change in ownership of property  City may review IUP or AOP The Commission should discuss whether the standards for an Agritourism Enterprise would be the same, or which standards would differ from the standards for a Rural Event Facility. If the permit requirements and standards for the Agritourism Enterprise differ from the Rural Event Facility, the City could amend the ordinance to include a specific section on performance standards for an Agritourism Enterprise. If the performance standards for both uses would be the same, the current section could be modified to include both uses.