More Testimony Taken On Two Agri-Tourism Bills By The Frederick County Council

The Council is expected to vote on them next month.Frederick, Md (KM) More testimony was heard on Tuesday by the Frederick County Council on two bills covering agri-tourism.One of the measures would put a limit of 120 days per year on how long farm buildings could be used for agri-tourism purposes. The second bill would put restrictions on agri-tourism activities such as fire pits, amplified music, fireworks, fruit and vegetable cannons and fire pits.The Council held a hearing on the two bills last week. But because amendments were adopted for both bills, the Council had to hold another public hearing.Alexandra Glover testified against the bill setting limits on the number days farm buildings could be used for agri-tourism.. “Lots of farms are open more than just for  pumpkin patches. So many farms have gotten into pick-your-own strawberries. blueberries, apples, even pick-your-own flowers, sunflowers,” she said. “If you were being told that you could only use your building for your business for 120 days of the year, would you be okay with that?”During testimony on the second bill, the Council heard from Middletown area residents who lived near the Summers Farm, which is a working farm that has an agri-tourism side. Those residents complained about the noise and dust generated by this part of the Summers Farm operation. “All this, of course, begs the question about how to balance the rights of the agri-tourism farmer with the rights of the family whose quality of life may be adversely affected,” he said. “I think that adopting this amended ordinance would be a good step in the right direction.”Judy Nessen, who lives in the Middletown area near Summers Farm, also testified about the noise and dust from the agri-tourism venue. “Nobody is trying to take away the funnest place in Frederick County, or close anybody down or take jobs away,”: she said. “We are asking for a little empathy and compromise.”Scott Parker lives in Fountaindale South near the Summers Farms. He said this legislation is not aimed specifically at the Summers Farm. “This bill does not affect any farm or any agri-tourism enterprise in the county which has a reasonable location for activities that doesn’t significantly or severely impact the neighbors to which they are adjacent to,” he said,.Alexandra Glover also  spoke on the second bill, and she said it will not just affect the Summers Farm. “This isn’t about Summers Farm. It is about every single other ag-tourism farm out there. Gaver Farms, Jumbo, Catoctin Mountain. The list goes on and on. Why are we talking about and limiting and trying to stop one farm? There’s tons of them in Frederick County,”: she said.The Council also heard from Alexandra Linns who manages the farm festival for Magnolia Meadow Farm on Creagerstown Road in Thurmont. She said the festival brings in visitors from surrounding communities such as Hagerstown, Silver Spring, Washington DC and Baltimore. She also said people from 43 states visit. They spend their money here which helps the local economy. “When consumers from outside of the county are choosing a farm they’d like to visit, these are the types of attractions that they’re looking for: apple cannons, campfires, live music,” she said. “Should this bill move forward in its present state, and the resulting consequences be that Frederick County farms are no longer able to offer these attractions, these consumers will be looking elsewhere.”The Council is expected to vote on these two bills during its meeting on Tuesday,, November 12th.By Kevin McManus