Planning commission approves conditional‑use permit for resident’s at‑home farm stand

The Green River Planning Commission on April 21 approved a conditional‑use permit that will allow resident Savannah Withers to operate an at‑home farm stand from her property.

Withers told the commission she has worked with city staff and neighbors on the proposal and planned to start by selling her son’s eggs and some homemade food items. "My kids have done the junior entrepreneur program… and really just kind of want to expand what they're doing for their little businesses," she said, describing a stand set back about 42 feet from a stop sign and more than five feet from the roadway.

Staff advised commissioners that recent state changes affecting sales tax take effect July 1, 2026, and that homemade food sold direct to consumers will not be subject to state sales tax. David, the city planning administrator, told the commission that nonconsumable items (for example, 3‑D prints) would generally still trigger sales tax and that obtaining a sales‑tax license with the state would be handled by the applicant in coordination with staff.

Commissioners asked about landowner permission and compatibility with the city’s conditional‑use criteria (traffic, utility capacity, site compatibility and impacts). Withers confirmed she had written permission from the landowner and staff reviewed the general review criteria from the code.

A commissioner moved to approve the conditional‑use permit for an "at‑home foods" business; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote with no opposition. Chair Kim McFarland noted the approval covered the at‑home business use and that sales‑tax compliance would follow state rules and staff guidance.

Withers thanked the commission and left the meeting after the vote. The approval allows her to begin operating the stand subject to any standard compliance steps and conditions noted by staff.