SEYMOUR – The Seymour Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday approved a new “agritourism” zone that will go into effect Oct. 1.
The idea is that modern farms can’t rely on traditional farming alone to stay afloat. Adding “agritourism” to the land use rules will give farms in Seymour the option to try different things to bring in new revenue, such as entertainment, craft fairs, farmers markets, farm tasting events and educational classes.
The commission at its meeting Sept. 10 voted 4-1 in favor of the new text amendment.
Commissioner Kevin Stanis, who owns a farm in town, said he voted no because the setback requirements between farm event spaces and residential properties were too stringent.
Seymour First Selectwoman Annmarie Drugonis, who asked the PZC to look into agritourism in May, supported the commission’s vote.
“This was something I initiated because I believed it could be a great thing, not only for our local farmers, but for our entire community. Supporting our farms, creating opportunities for people to enjoy what Seymour has to offer and bringing our community together is what this is all about. I’m proud to see an idea that started with a conversation become something that will benefit Seymour for years to come.”
The PZC held several public hearings and meetings over the last few months on the issue. Hundreds of comments were submitted to the commission from farmers, residents and attorneys. A volunteer subcommittee was put together to draft the new regulations.
“There was a lot of work put in by staff, town and the volunteers on the subcommittee, and I want to thank the public for coming out and giving us their opinions,” PZC Chairman Brian Sirowich said. “(Agritourism) will hopefully drive some economic impacts and draw people to this great community we have here.”
Background
The agritourism discussion was born from controversy.
The town’s zoning enforcement officer issued a cease and desist order in April against Red Clover Farms, a 110-year-old farm at 174 South Benham Road.
The cease and desist noted the farm was hosting non-farming commercial activities on the property, which is residentially zoned. The farm is older than the current zoning, which dates back to 1956.
The cease and desist arrived after complaints against the farm were lodged by neighbors Al and Kristen Bruno, who are elected officials on the Board of Selectpersons and the Board of Education, respectively.
Red Clover Farms owner Kim Dulka Warner appealed the cease and desist to the Seymour Zoning Board of Appeals, saying the farm will go out of business if the order stands.
The issue stirred a hornet’s nest, with Seymour residents and area farmers attending public meetings in large numbers to stand up for Red Clover Farms.
The ZBA on Aug. 6 unanimously voted to uphold the cease and desist, while at the same time allowing Dulka Warner to use the land as she was for 90 days.
Red Clover Farms has appealed that decision to Superior Court – though there’s a chance the lawsuit won’t move forward now that the rules have been changed. Dulka Warner said she will seek legal advice about how to proceed. She said she is representing herself in her ZBA appeal.
“I’m very grateful it got passed and they took the time to put this all together,” Dulka Warner said after the vote.
The New Agritourism Rules
The new zoning language, in part, enables farms to supplement primary farming operations with accessory activities and events, including:
Craft fairs
Birthday parties
Cooking lessons
Corn mazes
Educational workshops
Farm to table dinners
Food trucks
Hayrides
Farm tours
Farmers’ markets
Ice cream/concessions
Indoor and outdoor music
It would permit agritourism activities between the hours of 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Saturday.
Outdoor amplified sound or music will be restricted to the hours of 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. May 1 until Oct. 31 and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Nov. 1 until April 30.
Screening for outdoor performances must be shielded by opaque fencing or a native natural buffer during hours of operation.
Overnight accommodations or lodging for guests, patrons or event participants is prohibited.
Farm owners are required to get zoning permits for agritourism activities every two years.
There is also a land requirement of at least three acres for agritourism activities for existing farms. Anyone that applies for and is granted new farm status in town must have a minimum of 15 acres in order to host activities and events in the agritourism zone.
Reaction
Dulka Warner said the new rules will help the local economy.
“It just opens up more revenue streams for farmers to actually compete with other farms and towns who’ve already been doing agritourism,” Dulka Warner said. “It’s really exciting for the farms and the community and we can do things like involve the schools, and it just opens up so many new doors.”
Some of Red Clover Farms’ supporters attended Thursday night’s meeting.
“Now we can look forward to more activities, like arts and crafts fairs and horse rides,” said Lorraine Wheeler, of Seymour.
“It’s nice to know these activities can continue and she (Kim) can keep building on activities,” said Suzanne Sutherland, of Seymour.
David Brzezon, another fan of Red Clover Farms, said he, too, was happy with the outcome.
“I am happy with what they did and that they were able to come to some sort of a resolution,” he said. “I usually go there for the music events, and I purchase a lot of things there, too.”