Officials allow agricultural district in city
City officials are making room in the city’s zoning codes for some country living. On Tuesday, they passed an ordinance that will allow an agricultural district in the city limits.
In January, the McMinnville Regional Planning Commission recommended the addition of the new zone, A-1, within the city limits to accommodate farmers who want to be annexed into the city, but keep their land agricultural.
According to the general description, the purpose of the A-1 agricultural district is to provide space for agricultural uses, which comprise an important part of the economy of the city of McMinnville.
The intent is to permit lands best suited for agriculture to be used for agricultural purposes and also to prevent the encroachment of urban and other incompatible land uses on farm lands and thereby protect the physical and economic well-being of agricultural operations.
Permitted uses within this district will include general agricultural uses and their accessory uses; single-family detached dwelling, excluding mobile homes; conservation areas and wildlife management areas; accessory buildings; television, radio, and satellite dish antennas; and temporary structures.
On exception, the zone will allow other uses including churches, lodge halls, civic organizations, commercial livestock feed and sales yard, dog kennels, livery stables or riding academies, bed and breakfast inns, and municipal fire or police substations.
Uses prohibited in this zone include mobile homes, two-family dwellings, and multi-family dwellings; storage or overnight parking of commercial or industrial vehicles; commercial and industrial uses; and outdoor storage.
Unlike other structures within the city limits, there is no height limitations for barns and agricultural storage buildings. However, no other structure can exceed 35 feet or 3 stories in height.
Before the A-1 zone, farm land annexed entered the city as R-1. Because an ordinance is needed to add an agricultural district to the official zoning code, the measure will need one more pass before the board.