Milton planning commission approves reduced footprint for Little River Farms event venue, rescinds older permits

Chairperson Judy Burrows and the Milton Planning Commission on June 25 recommended approval of a revised use permit that reduces the Little River Farms rural event facility from 47.7 acres to 35.87 acres while retaining prior operating limits, and they recommended rescission of two older permits tied to the property.

The commission’s action came after a staff presentation and an applicant hearing on U25-02, the use-permit amendment for the property at 14505 Batesville Road. Robin McDonald, zoning manager for the City of Milton’s Community Development Department, told commissioners the revised site plan (dated May 5) meets the rural event facility standards in UDC section 8.70.1.h and that staff recommends approval with the same conditions previously imposed, including hours of operation, a 250-person attendance cap and noise limits. McDonald said events with more than 75 attendees must provide valet service and a minimum of one off-duty police officer.

Scott Reese, of Royal Reese and Associates, representing the Ivy family and the applicant, said the venue has operated for 11 years without reported incidents and that the amendment would allow the family to retain the core venue while offering a portion of the land for sale. "This is what makes Milton unique," Reese said of the venue. He said the family’s preference is to keep the home place and maintain the event facility on the reduced 35 acres rather than sell the entire property.

Attorney Rich Kaye, of Pearson & Ferdinand, addressed the commission about sound monitoring. "From all the work we did, we can assure you that the decibels and the sound limits ... certainly fits within the sound requirements of the permit," Kaye said, adding that a tree farm now provides additional buffering between the venue and nearby homes.

Commission discussion focused on what might happen to the carved-out 16.5 acres, access and emergency-access implications if that parcel were developed, and how noise would be measured. Commissioners asked staff whether the 45-decibel limit is measured at the neighboring property line; Commissioner Trey James moved approval with conditions, including an amendment clarifying the 45-decibel limit is measured at the property line. The motion passed unanimously.

The commission then voted to recommend rescission of two existing permits tied to the property: U14-02 (the prior rural event facility permit) and U14-01 (a bed-and-breakfast permit that staff and the applicant said is not in active use). Motions to recommend rescission of U14-02 and U14-01 passed unanimously.

The applicant and staff noted the amendment will not add structures, change parking layouts, or alter hours or maximum attendance. McDonald said the revised site plan shows the primary buildings (the main house, an atrium and an existing building) and accessory structures; the site plan was provided to commissioners and will be attached to the final permit if the city council concurs. Commissioners discussed but did not add a condition restricting future access from the carved-out parcel, with legal counsel and staff noting the planning commission can impose conditions tied to this use permit but future development of the carved-out parcel could require separate reviews.

The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Milton mayor and city council for final action at a forthcoming council meeting on Aug. 4, 2025. The commission’s vote on the use-permit amendment and the two rescissions was unanimous among the five commissioners present.

Votes at a glance: - U25-02 (14505 Batesville Road) — Motion to recommend approval of the rural event facility use permit amendment (reduce area to 35.87 acres; retain prior conditions; clarify 45-decibel measurement at property line). Mover: Commissioner Trey James; Second: Commissioner Fred Edwards. Outcome: recommended for approval (unanimous). - U14-02 (rescission of prior rural event facility permit ZM17-01) — Motion to recommend rescission. Mover: Commissioner Kurt Nolte; Second: Commissioner Fred Edwards. Outcome: recommended for rescission (unanimous). - U14-01 (rescission of bed-and-breakfast permit) — Motion to recommend rescission. Mover: Commissioner Sumit Shah (referred to in the transcript as Commissioner Shaw); Second: Chairperson Judy Burrows. Outcome: recommended for rescission (unanimous).

Why it matters: the decision preserves the existing event operation and its previously approved operating conditions while allowing the property owner to sell a portion of the land; that sale could change access, emergency routing and future development patterns, which commissioners flagged as matters for later review if new development proposals arise.

What’s next: the commission’s recommendations go to the Milton mayor and city council for final action at a scheduled council meeting on Aug. 4, 2025. If council approves the rescissions and the amended permit, the reduced legal description and the May 5 site plan will govern allowed uses and the noise standard clarified by the commission.

Ending: Commissioners closed the public hearing after hearing from the applicant and staff and after no members of the public registered opposition at the meeting. The commission asked staff to ensure the noise standard language is clear on the final permit and to note emergency-access constraints for possible future development of the carved-out parcel.