AGENDA DATE: 3/2/2016
TITLE:
Title
ZTA 2016-3 Farm Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries Events
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Resolution of Intent for Farm Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries Events Zoning Text Amendment
ITEM TYPE: Regular Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Walker, Davis, Kamptner, McCulley, Cilimberg, Clark, Burbage
PRESENTER (S): Amanda Burbage
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Thomas C. Foley
BACKGROUND: Under State law, farm wineries, breweries, and distilleries ("FWBDs") are allowed to hold activities and events to market and sell their products. These activities and events may range from inviting the public to participate in a harvest to holding weddings and wedding receptions. The County's authority to regulate these events and activities is limited by State law.
Over the past three years, changes to the Virginia State Code have prompted the Board to amend the County's regulation of activities and events at FWBDs, most recently amending the Zoning Ordinance on December 9, 2015 to add regulations for farm distilleries that parallel those for farm wineries and farm breweries. While the County's regulations attempt to strike a balance between fostering the economic success of these agricultural enterprises and safeguarding the property rights of surrounding neighbors, the growing interest in holding events in the Rural Areas and the perceived ease by which State Alcoholic Beverage Control ("ABC") licenses for FWBDs has raised some concern about the individual and cumulative impacts resulting from these activities and events. This concern is heightened because license requirements for FWBDs require little or no agriculture on site. This provides an opportunity for FWBDs to be established on sites with no connection to agriculture, contrary to the underlying purposes of the State's zoning laws, the Rural Area chapter of the County's Comprehensive Plan, and the express purpose of the Rural Areas zoning d...
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