Encinitas council hears lengthy appeal over Sugar Sweet Farm agricultural permit

Encinitas — The City Council spent more than three hours on a public hearing about an agricultural permit for Sugar Sweet Farm, a longtime property in the Olivenhain area, after a neighbor filed a timely appeal objecting to the permit’s scope and to alleged ongoing code violations.

The permit approved by staff would allow up to 10 community-garden plots, small-animal keeping (26–100 animals triggers the permit requirement), small-scale agricultural production and a temporary food stand at the property on Fortuna Ranch Road. Associate Planner JD Choos summarized the staff report, saying the permit was limited to those uses, that staff added conditions tied to sanitation and animal enclosures, and that a condition was recommended requiring compliance with County of San Diego environmental-health rules for community gardens and food handling.

Neighbors and the appellant argued the farm had operated unpermitted commercial activities for years — notably “goat yoga,” private-group events and youth camps — and that those activities created traffic, noise and safety problems for the private easement serving the neighborhood. Appellant testimony cited social-media posts and video the appellant said showed events taking place after a city cease-and-desist, and raised concerns about an apparent connection to a nearby hydrant. The farm’s operators and supporters said the property is a multigenerational hobby farm and community resource that provides camps,…