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Diverse Vermont farm asks committee to clarify Act 181 exemption for multiuse farm structures
Summary
Owners of a cooperative farm said the Natural Resources Board cited a new pole barn as principally a stage and issued a violation under Act 181; they asked legislators to amend Act 181 to exempt structures primarily used for agriculture and occasional community events.
Christopher, who identified himself as a co‑owner of PAPO Farm Community, told the Senate Agriculture Committee on March 26 that the Natural Resources Board (NRB) has flagged a multiuse pole barn on the cooperative’s leased dairy farm as a violation under Act 181.
“The structure is used primarily for agriculture, storing hay, bottles, and farm equipment for most of the year,” Christopher said, adding that the barn is used as covered space for music roughly 15 to 20 times each summer.
Christopher described the structure as a traditional agricultural pole barn built with hand‑harvested spruce, sitting on piers, and integrated into farm operations. He said the town selectboard and local community supported the project but that the NRB’s interpretation treats the structure as principally commercial entertainment because it has been used occasionally as a performance stage.
Why it matters: The witnesses argued that the NRB interpretation of Act 181 can have immediate operational and tax implications. Christopher said the farm first learned of an issue when its current‑use status was temporarily removed, causing a sudden tax increase; the current‑use status was later restored while an audit is ongoing. The farm said it already holds multiple permits for on‑farm activities including alcohol production and retail pickup points.
Speakers asked the committee to consider drafting an amendment to Act 181 to exempt multiuse agricultural structures “primarily used for farming” or activities of on‑farm businesses from requiring a separate permit, while maintaining safeguards against misuse of such exemptions. The committee asked for written language and testimony to be submitted for staff review.
Ending: Committee members encouraged the farm to supply proposed statutory language and to host site visits for staff and NRB representatives to observe the structure in context.
