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Santaquin council approves agritourism zoning changes with 5‑acre minimum, 3% activity cap
Summary
The council approved an ordinance to allow agritourism as a conditional use in most zones, setting a five‑acre minimum parcel size and limiting activities that remove agricultural production to 3% of a site; conditional uses must go to the planning commission.
The Santaquin City Council on July 19 approved a zoning ordinance that adds agritourism as a conditional land use in most city zones, sets a five‑acre minimum parcel size for agritourism sites and limits agritourism activities that remove agricultural production to 3% of a parcel.
City Community Development Director Jason (last name not stated) told the council the ordinance was designed to help farm families by allowing limited business activity on agricultural parcels while preserving farming operations. "The agricultural site must be on a parcel that is at least 5 acres, and the agritourism activities that remove agricultural production from the site cannot consume more than 3% of the total agricultural site," he said.
The 3% rule was described in the meeting as a practical ratio: on the 5‑acre minimum it equals about 0.15 acres (roughly 6,500 square feet), and the planning commission will determine how acreage used for agritourism is calculated. The ordinance also lists temporary hospitality accommodations as part of agritourism and moves agriculture buildings from a permitted use to a conditional use to allow extra review because of potential impacts such as large machinery storing on site.
Supporters, including members of the Rolle family and other local growers who met with staff while the ordinance was drafted, said the changes will help farm operations remain viable as property values rise. Jason said the intent is to "preserve the agriculture that is in the community" by creating avenues for supplemental income.
Council discussion focused on the balance between encouraging farm enterprises and limiting impacts on neighboring residential areas. Councilmember Art flagged a scrivener's error in the code language for the R‑8 zone; staff acknowledged the error and said edits would be made. Council members emphasized that conditional uses will require planning commission review and that the code is intended to be flexible; staff noted the city can return to the council to amend the code if unforeseen issues arise.
The motion to approve the ordinance, including the scrivener's corrections discussed in the meeting, passed by voice vote. Councilmembers recorded voting "aye" during roll call: Bridal, Art, Jeff, Lynn, Travis and Brian.
What this means: Agritourism activities such as farm stands, receptions and limited temporary lodging will be allowed under specified conditions and subject to planning commission review. Existing agritourism operations that are legal nonconforming uses can continue but may need conditional‑use review for expansion.
The ordinance moves forward as city code; staff will implement the procedures for conditional‑use review and return with any additional code cleanups. Planning commission review will be required for individual agritourism proposals.
