MAKE HAY WHILE THE SUN SHINES...AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

We're well past haying season, but you can still take advantage of some political "fair weather."  That is, you still have an opportunity to weigh in on the proposed agritourism ordinance language and even shape it before it goes the required publc hearing.

Recently, a second open house on this subject was held. About 30-40 people attended, as also happened at the first open house held some months ago. That there even WAS a second open house was an accomplishment, in my opinion. Supervisor Cory Behrendt, Task Force member Fritz Frana, and Yours Truly spoke in support of having one. The thought was the Township (Task Force, Planning Commission, Town Board) needs to get back to the people to tell them how their input came into play in drawing up the currently proposed language.


Not all were in favor of having such a public gathering.  Commission Chair Butch Hansen was not and opined that "we'll just be back at square one," and the Township should just move on to the public hearing. I was surprised that as a member of the Task Force he would apparently have so little faith in the language that they had labored over for months or that he felt that the public did not need to be heard from again outside of a hearing. The point of the first open house was to inform the public and also to gather its feedback on the topic.  If the public is worth hearing from in the first place (and indeed they are!), shouldn't they also find out how the Task Force chosen by the Town Board on their behalf worked with their feedback? Certainly, it is entirely possible (probable) that at least some "tweaks" might be needed!

Indeed, at a Special Planning Commission meeting the night before the open house, Supervisor and Board Liaison for the Commission meeting, Kenny Miller, stated that he "thought the open house was to inform the public about the ordinance that we are going to enact."  To employ another rural saying, I think that is "putting the cart before the horse."  Mr. Miller is fond of saying how long it took to update the Mining Ordinance, one time stating it took "two years," so I

wonder what's the rush with the Agritourism Ordinance?  Also, I think one should keep an open mind since there is still a public hearing to be held.

Since the ordinance will affect all the public, I think the public should be involved in its formation, don't you?  Giving people the opportunity to weigh in on zoning laws that will affect them, even starting in the early stages and onward, should just be a matter of course in government, in my opinion. This need not be relegated to a onetime event such as a public hearing after the language might be argued to be already "half-set in cement" and some people might be non-receptive to changes, even good changes.


You may remember that this agritourism ordinance all started with one individual applying for a Text Amendment, as individuals are welcome and able to do. The public hearing for this change in the zoning was published as is required by state statute.  However, when people showed up at that hearing and many spoke against the language and even the idea itself, the Board, under Chair Pete Storlie, decided that it would "take it on." In earlier posts, you were informed of his attempts at the language; not much of an improvement on the first submission in my and many others' opinions.

Eventually, the current Board saw fit to appoint a Special Committee or Task Force as it can do under the Ordinance.  This group was made up of six individuals who, as it happened, in many instances did not agree with each other on facets of the proposed law.  All the more reason to hear again from the public at large.



At the open house, a number of people offered input and all were invited to submit a comment card provided by the Planning Commission, who hosted the evening.  (According to Deputy Clerk Cheryl Murphy, about 35 of these latter were turned in.) Sherri Buss, Senior Planner at TKDA, who had worked with the Task Force, facilitated the meeting with a PowerPoint and information from other communities she has worked with and their experiences with this use.

Just a few of the comments made that night were:

***The Township seems to have considerable trouble enforcing the Ordinances that we already have, so why add another to the mix?
***The attorney has recommended that all agritourism be by Interim Use Permit.  Where is the Board on this?
***Many did not like the possibility of weddings being held every weekend near their homes.  One person even described it as "moving in the American Legion down the road from me."
***It was questioned how is a wedding even agritourism in the first place?
***There are many levels of intensity possible with this use. Do we want them all?

When asked, the Planning Commission stated that they would be willing to take any further input beyond the comment cards that evening.  This topic will be discussed in depth at their December meeting. That meeting is on the 1st of December, so normally any feedback that you may wish to submit should be in by the Thursday before. BUT that happens to be Thanksgiving.  Not sure if the clerk will be working on the Friday or perhaps (more likely?) will shift office hours to the Wednesday. To be on the safe side, earlier is better so that she can be sure to get your information in the packets for the Monday meeting of the Commission. Written comments may be mailed, dropped off during office hours at the Town Hall, dropped in the Drop Box at the Town Hall at any time, or, of course, emailed to the Clerk, Mira Broyles.

The draft of the proposed Ordinance is available on the Town website.  There is actually more than one there, but perhaps the attorney's version is the one to look at.  The attorney's task, as given to him by the Board, was to put the other text proposals and further minority reports into suitable language for an ordinance. His comment about Interim Use Permits being advisable was made during a Town Board meeting.

Consider giving your input now so that down the road we won't be faced with "closing the barn door after the horse is gone!"