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Commission asks attorney to vet agritourism language after state code review
Summary
Planning staff reviewed Virginia’s agritourism definitions and commissioners asked the county attorney to draft local ordinance language adopting the state definition with limited local modifications; commissioners also debated whether to expressly list prohibited events.
The commission discussed agritourism rules and directed staff to send draft language to the county attorney for review so the commission can consider an ordinance amendment at a future meeting.
Planning staff summarized state law, citing the Code of Virginia’s agritourism definition (referenced in the meeting as “section 3.2-6400” and related definitions) and explained Gloucester County’s approach of allowing agritourism by right in many rural zoning districts while excluding certain activities and requiring a special exemption in some locations. Staff proposed adopting the state definition locally and allowing agritourism by right except in specific dense districts (R-1, B-1, B-2, and Village Mixed Use), and asked the county attorney to vet the draft language.
Commissioners debated whether to add explicit prohibitions (for example, rental of farm portions for weddings, receptions, retreats, or motorized competitions). Commissioner Andrade and others cautioned against drafting a long list of “what agritourism is not,” saying the county ordinance typically enumerates permitted uses and that adding lengthy exclusions could create maintenance and interpretation burdens. Commissioner Meade requested that staff bring back language vetted by the county attorney.
Next steps: Staff will prepare ordinance language that adopts the state agritourism definition with the agreed zoning-class limitations and send it to the county attorney for review before the commission votes.
