The county’s planning board supports a zoning change that would allow overnight stays on farms.
During a council public hearing Tuesday, Planning Board Chair Artie Harris said the opportunity to stay overnight on a working farm is “a great way to benefit both the farming community and to provide opportunities to the larger community to learn more about local agriculture.” Harris said the planning board is supportive of the idea, with suggested recommendations like setting limits on the size of the use and minimum size of farms where overnight stays are allowed.
According to county council documents, a proposed zoning amendment would allow overnight stays on farms in the agricultural reserve that have education and tourism activities as part of regular operations. Councilmember Natali Fani-González introduced the amendment in November last year.
“Our residents are looking for authentic farm experiences, and there is keen interest from local businesses in providing accommodations for overnight stays as an accessory component of the farm’s agritourism activities,” Fani-González stated in a previous release. The release noted that farmers currently cannot host guests overnight as part of agricultural tourism. Education and tourism activities that farmers are currently allowed to offer include things like wineries, farm breweries, corn mazes, hayrides, tours and workshops.
Also during Tuesday’s hearing, resident Paul Himmelfarb supported the change and said it would be a “fantastic alternative revenue source for farmers, as well as a wonderful tourist destination for families to go out and enjoy the farm and learn more about farm life.”
Another public hearing on the same topic will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday evening.
