General Assembly
“Earlier this week, the House approved HB 268, which expands
various agritourism activities and additional value-added sale, preparation and
processing opportunities. While a number of localities have successfully worked
with agricultural operations to expand such opportunities while maintaining
local authority, this bill creates a one size-fits-all land use policy regarding
agricultural operations and creates inflexibility at the local level. It allows
all “usual and customary” agritourism activities unless the activity causes
substantial impact on the health, safety, or general welfare of the public,
while putting restrictions on local tools such as special permits and
exceptions that can be beneficial in assuring proper balance of activities
among various land use types. On Thursday, the Senate Agriculture Committee
followed suit by approved a nearly identical, substitute version of SB 51. It
will be on the Senate floor for a vote next week.”
~Writes David Blount TJPDC
Legislative Liaison
