York council adopts ordinance to allow special-use events in A-1 agricultural district

On June 18, the York City Council passed ordinance 24-38, amending the A-1 agricultural district to allow public or private events — such as wedding venues, pumpkin patches or similar uses — within the city’s two-mile extraterritorial jurisdiction with a special-use permit. The planning commission recommended the change.

City staff explained the amendment would allow commercial venues where the primary use of a parcel is to host public or private events; routine customer appreciation gatherings for existing businesses would not be treated as a permanent venue use. A resident asked whether occasional customer events (for example, a seed business’ customer appreciation meal) would trigger a special-use permit; staff clarified that permanent venue uses intended primarily to host paying events are the focus of the ordinance.

During the public hearing, Dan (speaker 16) described the kinds of venues being considered and noted the city’s jurisdiction extends two miles beyond city limits. With council concurrence, the rules of procedure were suspended and the council moved for passage. The ordinance passed by roll-call vote; the chair announced the motion passed and the agenda concluded.

The ordinance expands the city’s ability to permit event-oriented uses in its nearby agricultural areas through the special-use permit process; applicants seeking to host regular, revenue-producing events will need to apply for that permit, which allows the city to add conditions and oversight on a case-by-case basis.