Update 7.26 - Important statement from Rocklands' Winery noting some concerns with the ZTA and correcting inaccurate statement made at PHED Committee regarding the number of wedding guests at their weddings. You asked, we answered - why is this such a big deal?
Update 7.16 - Action Needed on Proposed ZTA for Alcohol Production (ZTA 18-03) Take action by hearing on 7.20!
When MCA was made aware of a significant proposed zoning code change that would affect Montgomery County's nationally regarded Ag Reserve and all rural residential zones by broadening provisions for alcohol production facilities and associated large scale commercial event venues on as little as 5 acres... we brought broad community concerns and recommended amendments to Council members and staff. We offered ideas and sought discussion on how the uses might be reviewed and conditioned to ensure balance, safety and equity. Certainly, we thought, the bill's author, Hans Riemer and committee members would work to ensure that alcohol production/event venues be permitted in appropriate scale with family farms, rural communities, and other stakeholders. Right? Not so much as clearly evidenced prior to and at the Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee (PHED) meeting, chaired by Nancy Floreen. The PHED Committee paid little or no heed to their own staff attorney's recommendations to properly scale this zoning provision.
Update 7.16 - Action Needed on Proposed ZTA for Alcohol Production (ZTA 18-03) Take action by hearing on 7.20!
When MCA was made aware of a significant proposed zoning code change that would affect Montgomery County's nationally regarded Ag Reserve and all rural residential zones by broadening provisions for alcohol production facilities and associated large scale commercial event venues on as little as 5 acres... we brought broad community concerns and recommended amendments to Council members and staff. We offered ideas and sought discussion on how the uses might be reviewed and conditioned to ensure balance, safety and equity. Certainly, we thought, the bill's author, Hans Riemer and committee members would work to ensure that alcohol production/event venues be permitted in appropriate scale with family farms, rural communities, and other stakeholders. Right? Not so much as clearly evidenced prior to and at the Planning, Housing and Economic Development Committee (PHED) meeting, chaired by Nancy Floreen. The PHED Committee paid little or no heed to their own staff attorney's recommendations to properly scale this zoning provision.
Proposed ZTA will impact all rural zones (in color): AR, Rural, RC, RNC
Our proposed amendments are based on discussions with stakeholders including farmers, rural residents, local wineries and breweries, land use planners including Ag Reserve architect Royce Hanson, County residents who recreate and do farm commerce in the Reserve, preservationists, environmentalists... And with exception of two small technical provisions... there was not a single word uttered at the Council Committee acknowledging community/stakeholder concerns or input regarding the scale and intensity of the non-agricultural commercial event provisions. Reference was made to farmers who rightly noted that the zoning does not properly tie farm breweries to farming but even that discussion did not reference suggestions (including MCA's) on how to ensure that these are truly agricultural and accessory to agricultural uses.
With care, advancing new opportunities in both the Reserve and lower density rural residential communities can achieve economic, environmental and community/cultural benefits. The Master Plan for Agriculture and Open Space Preservation (AROS) was designed with flexibility, acknowledging the evolving nature of agriculture, allowing for revisions and additions. However, those changes must conform to the primary purpose of the plan, adhere to environmental protection goals, and be “consistent with historical character and community lifestyles in rural settlements.” AROS p. 71
Please click above to see details, including text of bills and staff reports. Though frustrated in our efforts thus far, we remain eager to work with the Council bill sponsors to help better this ZTA.
Your Email – Please personalize - Do you farm, buy farm goods, recreate, live in the areas affected? Share with others. Please send in emails by July 20 before next committee meeting! Your action is much appreciated!
Send to: Councilmember.Riemer@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Floreen@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Leventhal@montgomerycountymd.gov
CC:
Councilmember.Elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Berliner@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Hucker@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Rice@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Katz@montgomerycountymd.gov
Jeff.zyontz@montgomerycountymd.gov
BCC: info@mocoalliance.org
Subject line: ZTA 18-03 - Amendments Needed!
Dear PHED Committee Members and Councilmembers,
I support the continued careful stewardship of our County’s rural and agricultural land and communities. In keeping with that goal, I am writing to ask that you take the following action:
Amend ZTA 18-03 to address concerns that the zoning change support the goals of the County's master plan to protect agriculture, rural communities and natural resources. I support the amendments proposed by Montgomery Countryside Alliance and their partners which include requiring that the facilities be directly tied to agriculture on the property, operate in a scale in balance with other farming activities and rural communities and that road safety is maintained. Larger facilities should be afforded review under the County's conditional use approval process.
I support the collaborative efforts of Montgomery Countryside Alliance and partners in working toward legislative amendments that will ensure that zoning changes are supportive of our master plans, environmental protection, and will advance a vital and diverse agricultural and rural economy.
Let's not rush with zoning changes like this. Let's get this right!
Sincerely,
<your name here>
With care, advancing new opportunities in both the Reserve and lower density rural residential communities can achieve economic, environmental and community/cultural benefits. The Master Plan for Agriculture and Open Space Preservation (AROS) was designed with flexibility, acknowledging the evolving nature of agriculture, allowing for revisions and additions. However, those changes must conform to the primary purpose of the plan, adhere to environmental protection goals, and be “consistent with historical character and community lifestyles in rural settlements.” AROS p. 71
Please click above to see details, including text of bills and staff reports. Though frustrated in our efforts thus far, we remain eager to work with the Council bill sponsors to help better this ZTA.
Your Email – Please personalize - Do you farm, buy farm goods, recreate, live in the areas affected? Share with others. Please send in emails by July 20 before next committee meeting! Your action is much appreciated!
Send to: Councilmember.Riemer@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Floreen@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Leventhal@montgomerycountymd.gov
CC:
Councilmember.Elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Berliner@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Hucker@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Navarro@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Rice@montgomerycountymd.gov
Councilmember.Katz@montgomerycountymd.gov
Jeff.zyontz@montgomerycountymd.gov
BCC: info@mocoalliance.org
Subject line: ZTA 18-03 - Amendments Needed!
Dear PHED Committee Members and Councilmembers,
I support the continued careful stewardship of our County’s rural and agricultural land and communities. In keeping with that goal, I am writing to ask that you take the following action:
Amend ZTA 18-03 to address concerns that the zoning change support the goals of the County's master plan to protect agriculture, rural communities and natural resources. I support the amendments proposed by Montgomery Countryside Alliance and their partners which include requiring that the facilities be directly tied to agriculture on the property, operate in a scale in balance with other farming activities and rural communities and that road safety is maintained. Larger facilities should be afforded review under the County's conditional use approval process.
I support the collaborative efforts of Montgomery Countryside Alliance and partners in working toward legislative amendments that will ensure that zoning changes are supportive of our master plans, environmental protection, and will advance a vital and diverse agricultural and rural economy.
Let's not rush with zoning changes like this. Let's get this right!
Sincerely,
<your name here>
the Update!
Today's PHED Committee meeting... community comments were disregarded
(See MCA Testimony here)
The committee took up Riemer zoning text amendment to permit breweries/event facilities etc. in Reserve and in all rural residential zones. Councilmembers Riemer, Floreen and Leventhal were largely disinterested in concerns from rural community members regarding need to support Ag Reserve purpose/farming and needs to balance scale and impact of the facilities - citing instead that MC needs to be more like Loudoun County which has dropped even building use and occupancy safety requirements to promote the industry. (See Hearing Video here - agenda item starts at 25:41)
Action :Write the PHED Committee
(councilmember.floreen@montgomerycountymd.gov, Councilmember.Riemer@montgomerycountymd.gov, George.Leventhal@montgomerycountymd.gov)
and copy Council Members (County.Council@montgomerycountymd.gov)
Email before July 20:
Tell them that:
- > Business and balance with rural community and farming must go hand in hand.
- > Small wineries and breweries as permitted uses are welcomed but large scale venues with big events need a close look see through the County's conditional use process.
- > That process will ensure that roads can safely carry the traffic, that sound and other effects will not upend other farms/properties use and enjoyment of their homes/land and that we support the purpose of the Reserve- the preservation of agriculture and open space.
Read on for previous posts and background on this issue.
The agritourism industry is growing nationally and in Montgomery County. Farms can benefit from these new uses and farms are perfect event venues for all kinds of celebrations. But there needs to be balance to ensure that Agriculture is the top priority in line with master plans.
Background on this here.
The committee (PHED) work on the ZTA has been delayed until July 9, after the primary election. The list of groups and individuals that have concerns and support refining amendments is growing and includes:
Sugarloaf Citizens' Association
West Montgomery Civic Association
Audubon Naturalist Society
League of Women Voters
The Friends of Ten Mile Creek
Conservation Montgomery
Sugarland Ethnohistory Project
Land and Nature Discoveries Inc.
Historic Medley District
Heritage Montgomery
Montgomery County Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
St. Paul Community Church
Knight Kiplinger, Seneca
Barbara Hoover, Potomac
Pam Dubois, Darnestown
Joseph and Louisa McBride, Bethesda
Lauretta White, Poolesville
Anne Ambler, Wheaton
Dolores Milmoe
Mike Rubin, Capital Investments
Anne Davies, Boyds
Christina Nanof, Beallsville
MCA continues to work with local wineries, breweries, and other stakeholders to properly refine the ZTA. Doing so will ensure that the provision for the growth of the industry complies with master plan which calls for primary use of Reserve for farming and avoids conflict with other forms of agriculture, agritourism and communities' use and enjoyment of their properties.
Please contact us at info@mocoalliance.org with questions or if you would like to join the chorus of voice asking that zoning changes take care.
Background on this here.
The committee (PHED) work on the ZTA has been delayed until July 9, after the primary election. The list of groups and individuals that have concerns and support refining amendments is growing and includes:
Sugarloaf Citizens' Association
West Montgomery Civic Association
Audubon Naturalist Society
League of Women Voters
The Friends of Ten Mile Creek
Conservation Montgomery
Sugarland Ethnohistory Project
Land and Nature Discoveries Inc.
Historic Medley District
Heritage Montgomery
Montgomery County Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions
St. Paul Community Church
Knight Kiplinger, Seneca
Barbara Hoover, Potomac
Pam Dubois, Darnestown
Joseph and Louisa McBride, Bethesda
Lauretta White, Poolesville
Anne Ambler, Wheaton
Dolores Milmoe
Mike Rubin, Capital Investments
Anne Davies, Boyds
Christina Nanof, Beallsville
MCA continues to work with local wineries, breweries, and other stakeholders to properly refine the ZTA. Doing so will ensure that the provision for the growth of the industry complies with master plan which calls for primary use of Reserve for farming and avoids conflict with other forms of agriculture, agritourism and communities' use and enjoyment of their properties.
Please contact us at info@mocoalliance.org with questions or if you would like to join the chorus of voice asking that zoning changes take care.
