County planning commission says 'no' to easing agritourism rules

In the latest step in the process of reviewing and perhaps changing county code around agritourism, the Skagit County Planning Commissioners voted 5 to 2 to recommend that Skagit County Commissioners adopt the changes to Skagit County code proposed by the county's Agricultural Advisory Board.

The Ag Advisory Board proposes regulating agritourism events as temporary events – and reducing the number of permitted temporary events a venue may host from 24 to 12 a year.

It also recommends restricting the use of farm buildings to farming only. Other uses of barns, granaries and other outbuildings that have been lovingly restored throughout the county would not be permitted, or permitted only through special use permits.

The commissioners in favor of the measure cited enforcement as a main motivator for their vote.

"Non-temporary events like tasting rooms and restaurants and weddings and those kinds of things are not allowed and have not been allowed, so it's not like anything is being taken away," said Commissioner Kathy Mitchell.

"We are here this evening because existing codes haven't been enforced in a long time," said Commissioner Vince Henley.

"Basic laws are already in place," noted commission Chair Tim Raschko. "I can't see what we can do legally but support the position we currently have on the table."

Commissioner Amy Hughes advocated for the county to have an in-depth conversation on tourism and its impact on local citizens. "Worldwide and locally, unregulated tourism is disrupting life," she said, citing traffic experienced during last year's tulip festival.

Commissioners Joe Woodmansee and Jen Hutchinson voted against the recommendation.

"We need to start somewhere but going back to previous position is not the right one," said Hutchinson. "It's hard to recommend moving forward with a proposal that we had 1,000 comments against and less than two dozen in support. I don't think this is the right way to start."

Also, she noted, "There is no pathway to compliance being recommended here."

Besides better enforcement, Henley would like to see "a pathway to compliance for those who are out of compliance." He acknowledged that advancing the recommendation could help get "the new proposal, whatever it may be, onto the new docket."

The commission's recommendation will be on the county commissioners' meeting docket in January. Whether the commissioners accept or reject the measure, the agritourism conversation will continue.

That is what members of the Multi-Stakeholder group hope. Convened by Skagitonians to Preserve Farmland, the group proposed an alternative measure that would create a fixed number of "limited entry permits" for farm venues that would be renewed every three years. Inspections would ensure that events did not impact adjacent farming operations and other neighbors.

The group will refine its proposal and submit it to the county's 2025 docket, said SPF Executive Director Allen Rozema.

"We felt that our proposal could find the middle ground," he told the Weekly News. "It would create a cap on the number of venues, which we understood the farming community wanted, and would create a code path for existing venues, which some would make and some not."

Rozema calls the planning commission's request for more enforcement "an unfunded mandate" that would tax a county staff "maxed out" with current enforcement.

"Given that county has already adopted the 2024 budget, are they prepared to do a budget amendment to address this proposal?" he asked.

Chris Dariotis of La Conner Gardens farms one of his 18 acres and sells his produce to neighbors he calls "appreciative." While he described himself as a tiny participant with no dog in the fight, he hopes that the farming activity he sees outside his window can "be shared with the world, not just kept for ourselves."

For SPF, the agritourism discussion is one of many agricultural-related issues that evolve as farming evolves.

"Our board looks at the entire ag industry and what is in its best interest long term," said Rozema. Many previous flashpoint issues around land use "have been settled in the short term, then you see how it works out. Policies may need tweaks three, five or 10 years down the road."

And agritourism?

"This is a community issue, so if we can keep all the stakeholders talking, there could be a solution found."