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Committee approves Long Branch agritourism permit over neighbor safety complaints
Summary
The AAC approved an agritourism permit allowing up to 12 private events per year at Long Branch Saloon & Farms (PLN2025-00273). Neighbors raised emergency-access, parking, noise and alleged permitting violations; committee members noted community fundraising benefits but also discussed road-width and fire-safety concerns.
The San Mateo County Agricultural Advisory Committee on Nov. 10, 2025, recommended approval of an agritourism permit for Long Branch Saloon & Farms (owner/applicant Kevin Palmer) that authorizes up to 12 private farm/ranch events per year on a 43-acre parcel in San Gregorio.
Summer Burleson, project planner with San Mateo County Planning and Building, presented PLN2025-00273: the proposal would continue agritourism activities on the property—educational farm tours and private nonprofit events—and allow up to 12 private events in a 12-month period. The staff report noted the site can accommodate up to 300 vehicles and that some events rely on shuttle or bus transport.
Neighbors raised safety and land-use concerns. Joe Chamberlain, who lives on an adjoining parcel that accesses the public road through the Palmer property, said large events create an emergency-access risk: "If there's an emergency and if there's 300 guests decide to use the road, we don't get out," he said, noting the access is a single-lane easement. Chamberlain also described noise and frequent events he said felt like an event center rather than subsidiary agritourism.
Other speakers defended the applicant's community contributions: committee members and Farm Bureau representatives said events at the site have raised funds for 4‑H and FFA and provide agricultural education. Committee members debated whether current operations conform to the county's agritourism guidelines and whether traffic, emergency access and road width require additional conditions.
After discussion, a committee member moved to approve the staff recommendation "as written" and Natalie Sehr seconded. Members voiced approval and the chair declared the motion passed, authorizing the agritourism permit as proposed (up to 12 private events per year). The motion carried under the committee's procedural rules for tonight's meeting.
The committee's approval does not erase neighborhood complaints recorded in the staff file and voiced at the meeting; members and staff discussed possible conditions (such as limiting event size or requiring shuttles) and enforcement follow-ups if county inspections find unpermitted work. Planning staff will include recommended conditions and any required follow-up in the official permit record to the director of Planning and Building.
The committee adjourned the item after the vote; neighbors were advised they may pursue code enforcement or raise issues with county staff if they believe permits have been exceeded.
