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Board approves Rivercrest Orchard CUP for seasonal festivals and additional kitchen building
Summary
The planning board approved a conditional use permit allowing Rivercrest Orchard to continue agritourism festivals and add a commercial kitchen; staff reported one complaint about traffic and the applicant is coordinating with the fire department and health department.
The Washington County Planning Board approved a conditional use permit Sept. 25 for Rivercrest Orchard, a 60‑acre agritourism farm that combines produce farming with seasonal festivals.
The applicant seeks to formalize existing seasonal events — fall festival, tulip festival, strawberry festival and Easter festival — and add a 40‑by‑60 kitchen building to serve on‑site food operations. Planning staff said the property includes a 90‑by‑100 main barn, pavilions, restrooms on septic, grass parking for about 285 vehicles and festival attractions. Seventy‑four notifications were mailed and the department received one complaint citing traffic and compatibility; seven supportive comments were reported for other projects, and staff said the applicant is coordinating with the Mountain Fire Department and the health department on kitchen and hood requirements.
Why this matters: Rivercrest Orchard is a longstanding farm whose owners said they want to keep agriculture at the center of operations while expanding food service to better control quality and scheduling than relying on food trucks. The applicant said the property has produced food for decades and is a major vendor at regional farmers markets.
Board action: After a member moved to approve the CUP, the board voted in favor. No additional conditions beyond standard planning conditions were added at the meeting.
Context: Planning staff noted prior CUP approvals for the property that were not implemented because of logistical and financial obstacles; the applicant emphasized the agritourism focus and said the new kitchen would replace previously‑used food trucks.
Ending: With the CUP approved, the applicant will pursue a certified kitchen license from the Arkansas Department of Health and follow fire department requirements for hood suppression and other safety systems before opening the commercial kitchen.
