Commissioners Approve Rezoning for Burning Barrel Farm to Allow Separate Homestead Parcel

Douglas County commissioners voted unanimously on May 28 to rezone about 27.6 acres commonly known as the Burning Barrel Farm at 292 North 2100 Road from AG-1 (agricultural) to AG-2 (transitional agricultural), a change that will allow the property owner to split the land and build a separate residence on a minimum 10-acre parcel.

Mary Miller, a city–county planner, told the commission the property is a registered agritourism use that hosts farm-to-table dinners, small events and tours. Miller said the site is about 30 acres and currently operates as a working farm; under AG-1 zoning a land division to create a separate buildable parcel was not feasible without preserving the remainder of the land as nondevelopable farmland.

“They’re requesting rezoning to the AG-2 district so they can divide off 10 acres,” Miller said, describing the certificate-of-survey requirements in the AG-2 district that limit divisions to two parcels and a minimum parcel size of 10 acres. Miller said staff finds the request compatible with nearby parcel sizes and land use and in conformance with the county comprehensive plan because the property is located in an already fragmented area where smaller parcels exist.

An applicant spokesperson described Burning Barrel as an agritourism farm, restaurant and event venue that grows pastured pork, poultry, vegetables and herbs and hosts dinners, private events and educational programming. The applicant told commissioners that building a residence on-site is necessary for intensive daily business operations and for financing and liability reasons. “Allowing our 30-acre parcel to be rezoned and divided would enable us to build a home for our family to live on the farm rather than to commute there,” the applicant said.

Staff noted environmental protections will be part of the required certificate of survey. The county code requires a building envelope to be shown and allows the county to require preservation of up to 40% of environmentally sensitive lands within a land division. Miller said the proposed residence placement would avoid fragmenting the highest-quality soils on the parcel.

Commissioner Millie moved to approve the rezoning request Z-205-0002 and to adopt Resolution 25-24; the motion was seconded and passed 5-0.

Ending: The rezoning permits the applicant to prepare a certificate of survey and proceed with the recorded division and building-permit process consistent with conditions in Resolution 25-24 and county code; no appeals or additional public hearings were scheduled during the meeting.