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Dilworth Planning Commission opens discussion on agritourism rules; staff to redraft ordinance
Summary
Commissioners and residents discussed a proposed agritourism ordinance to permit farm- and garden-based events in transition zones and potentially as a limited home occupation; staff will recraft the draft to separate large agritourism interim uses from home-occupation micro-farm activity and return with zone-specific language.
The Dilworth Planning Commission spent the largest portion of its meeting discussing a draft agritourism ordinance meant to clarify how small-scale and larger agritourism activities could operate inside city limits.
Staff framed two strands: larger agritourism uses on transition-zone (agricultural) parcels under interim- or conditional-use review, and micro agri-tourism conducted as a home occupation on residential lots (small garden tours, tea parties, pick-your-own flowers). Lynn Park and Norin Thomas described small, low-key events — garden tours, tea parties and classes — and said they follow Minnesota food-cottage requirements where applicable. Park recounted a garden tour that drew roughly 450 visitors over two days; she and other supporters said most of her events are quiet, typically six to eight people, and that she communicates with neighbors about parking.
Commissioners and staff debated whether existing home-occupation rules are sufficient for small events or whether a standalone agritourism use should be added to transition-zone regulations. Several commissioners said they did not want to over-regulate home activities and preferred to leave modest micro-farm events to staff review under home-occupation rules; others favored drafting clear interim-use language to allow larger agritourism operations on transition-zone parcels and to provide a permit pathway for proposals that could draw more visitors.
Payton Masterodon Lorson told the commission that when a use is not clearly listed in the zoning ordinance it can be treated as prohibited; that was a principal reason staff proposed clarified agritourism language. Commissioners asked staff to redraft the ordinance to (1) remove or separate the home-occupation component so staff can continue to handle micro events administratively, (2) craft language and zone maps to permit agritourism as an interim use in appropriate transition/agricultural zones, and (3) consider permit types (interim use vs conditional use), signage, parking and periodic review. The commission did not vote on an ordinance at this meeting.
Next steps: staff will return with a revised draft that distinguishes transition-zone agritourism and home-occupation micro-farming, includes suggested zones and permit pathways, and clarifies definitions and parking/insurance expectations.
