Edward and Sheila Lawless asked county officials to rezone a 15.06-acre vacant parcel on Gunter Road from RR-1 Rural Residential to AG Agricultural Preservation District so the couple can develop leased garden beds and phased agritourism amenities, they said at a public hearing.

The request matters because it would change the property’s zoning to permit uses the applicants described as agritourism, including a membership-based leased-garden-bed operation, a greenhouse, a refreshment center and a storage building. The applicants also described possible future phases such as a walking trail and a natural amphitheater or event area.

Edward Lawless told councilors the plan would create "roughly 100, garden beds, that can be leased. It will be a basically a garden membership club." He said the garden area would occupy about two acres of the 15-acre parcel and include a greenhouse, a refreshment center and storage for equipment and the well pump. Lawless said the concept is phased and that future phases could add a trail and an event area for weddings or other gatherings.

Council members asked about potential commercial activity and whether liquor sales would be offered; a council member asked directly, "are you planning on selling liquor at any time or beer since that is in the C 2?" The applicant replied, "Not at the current time. No." (Transcript: applicant responses during the hearing.)

No residents spoke in opposition during the hearing. Staff documented that the parcel is roughly 15 acres and that the proposed primary land use is leased garden beds.

Because this was a public informational hearing, the council took no vote; any rezoning would require subsequent committee review and council readings before a change could take effect.