Santaquin council weighs agritourism rules to allow farm hospitality while limiting traffic, nuisances

Santaquin — City staff and the planning commission asked the Santaquin City Council on July 15 to set policy limits for a proposed agritourism ordinance that would permit new farm-based activities such as seasonal festivals and limited overnight hospitality in agricultural areas.

At the work session Jason (planning staff) said the city previously adopted a temporary-use provision that allowed agritourism on a short-term basis, and that the new draft would move beyond temporary permits to create clearer, longer-term rules. “I think it's 6 months total that they can have that,” Jason said of the existing temporary-use allowance, describing it as a starting point that helped local farms host wedding receptions and photography events.

Brett (city legal counsel) told the council the draft aims to protect agriculture while preventing unintended, higher-impact uses. “Our whole intent with this is to promote and support the preservation of agriculture,” Brett said, adding that the city needs language that prevents agritourism from evolving into commercial uses that could displace farming.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said agritourism could help farm families increase revenue and keep land in agricultural use, but they also raised concerns about traffic, noise, parking and the long-term risk that entertainment uses could replace orchards. The discussion referenced local examples where agritourism scaled beyond farming, including a nearby lavender operation that draws large concerts and a West-Orem farm that the council described as having developed into a near–year-round carnival.

Key options discussed: Jason outlined three impact levels for council guidance. - Option 1: Very low-impact uses (examples given: roadside stands). - Option 2: Medium-impact seasonal events and limited hospitality (planning staff’s current draft contemplates a hospitality element of up to eight units in some situations and seasonal festivals such as an autumn “back 40” event). - Option 3: High-impact uses comparable to large commercial events (the council identified Young Living-style festivals as the high end and said that level of impact is not appropriate inside residential-proximate agricultural areas).

Staff also discussed possible numerical safeguards. Planning commissioners had discussed a minimum parcel size (a 5-acre threshold was mentioned during the meeting) and a proportionality concept (an illustrative 80/20 split—where 80% of land remains in agriculture and 20% is allowed for agritourism—was described as one possible limit, but speakers emphasized the ratio is not set in code). Jason said such thresholds remain under consideration and would require more council direction before staff drafts final ordinance language.

Farmers and proponents said small, carefully located hospitality units could be compatible with orchards. “I'm Curtis Roley. I was told just to come and listen by Dustin,” Curtis Roley told the council and described plans for several small overnight units “right in the middle of the trees” that he said would occupy less than half an acre of a 50‑acre parcel and “no impact to the agriculture.”

Council concerns and possible regulatory tools: Elected members recommended setting boundaries to reduce nuisance and preserve open space. Suggestions included: setback or proximity limits to residential lots, conditional‑use review for larger festivals, limits on hours and noise, requiring gravel rather than fully improved parking, minimum parcel sizes, and tailored parking standards tied to event scale. Several council members said they preferred flexible rules that allow legitimate agritourism while preserving the character of agricultural areas and preventing conversion to nonagricultural commercial uses.

Process and next steps: Staff and legal counsel said they will refine the draft ordinance and return with more detailed language. Brett and Jason asked the council to clarify the acceptable “level of impacts” (roughly: minimal, medium, or high) so that legal staff can prepare enforceable standards. The planning commission has reviewed the draft and is generally supportive in principle, but commission members flagged the need for clearer parameters before administrative permits could be issued.

Ending: Councilmembers encouraged the applicants and neighbors to review the recorded meeting and continue discussions with staff. No ordinance was adopted at the July 15 work session; staff will return with a revised draft for future public hearings and formal votes.