Board approves agritourism and bed-and-breakfast uses at Ashbourne Farms but denies extended exterior music
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Summary
The board approved conditional uses for agritourism and two bed-and-breakfast houses at Ashbourne Farms (3810 Old Westport Road) but denied a request to extend exterior amplified music beyond 10 p.m., citing neighbor noise concerns; staff reported no written letters were received.
The Oldham County Board of Adjustments on Feb. 19 approved two conditional-use permits for Ashbourne Farms at 3810 Old Westport Road, permitting agritourism activities and two bed-and-breakfast residences, and denied the applicant’s request to extend exterior amplified music from 10:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.
Anna Barge, assistant director for planning, told the board agritourism and bed-and-breakfast uses are conditional in AG-1 and CO-1 zoning and reviewed the site: the parcel discussed spans roughly 400-plus acres within a larger Ashbourne Farms property. Barge noted the farm previously received a conditional-use approval for events in 2014 and that the applicant requested an update to allow outdoor amplified music until 11:00 p.m.
Applicant attorney Mike Swansberg said Ashbourne Farms seeks to expand educational programs (farm tours, a "Farmer for a Day" program, adult workshops), continue event operations and designate two existing houses as bed-and-breakfast lodging. "We're asking at least to have that flexibility of one more hour," Swansberg said of the amplified-music request, noting staff estimate the nearest residence to the show barn is about 2,000 feet away and that most events use indoor music.
Neighbors spoke only about the amplified-music extension. Resident Rebecca Spitler said exterior music can be disruptive for those who live nearby and objected to a later cutoff. Swansberg replied that, to his knowledge, the farm had received only one noise complaint in the past and that the complaint involved an employee’s personal party rather than an event.
Board members agreed there was sufficient evidence to approve agritourism and the bed-and-breakfast permits, with conditions that any approval applies only to the application presented Feb. 19 and that the applicant follow state regulations for bed-and-breakfast operations. On the amplified-music request, after discussion and a brief vacated motion to deny, the board made a focused finding that the request to extend exterior amplified music to 11:00 p.m. was not appropriate based on testimony that neighbors can hear the music; the motion to deny that modification carried.
Staff recorded no letters in favor or opposition. The decisions were limited to the applications discussed at the Feb. 19 hearing.
