Fremont County approves permanent agritainment permit for Diana’s Pumpkin Patch with waivers and conditions

The Fremont County Board of County Commissioners on Feb. 19 approved SRU25-002, granting a permanent agritainment special review use to Diana’s Pumpkin Patch at 1649 and 1629 Poplar Avenue in Cañon City.

The permit allows the farm to operate seasonally from Sept. 20 through Oct. 31 each year for attractions including a corn maze, pumpkin picking, tractor hay rides, educational farm programs and social events. Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the permit with a mix of waivers, contingencies and conditions designed to address neighbor concerns about parking, debris and accessible parking.

Planning and zoning director Dan Victoria told the board the application was heard by the planning commission and that staff recommended approval with specific waivers for a hard-surfaced dumpster pad and surfacing rules for standard parking in agricultural areas. Victoria said the proposal includes anticipated attendance of 65–75 guests on weekdays, 250–275 for school events and 800–1,000 guests per day on weekend peak days; proposed on-site parking includes 66 gravel spaces, 103 grass spaces and six ADA parking spaces. He said the county’s annual calculated road-impact fee…