The Town Council of the Town of Richmond hereby ordains that Ch. 18.47 of the Code of Ordinances is amended to read as follows:
Chapter 18.47
ACCESSORY FARM USES
18.47.010 Purpose.
18.47.020 Definitions.
18.47.030 Accessory uses.
18.47.040 Development plan review.
18.47.050 Dimensional regulations.
18.47.060 Signs.
18.47.070 Impact mitigation requirements.
18.47.010 Purpose. The purpose of this Chapter is to foster the economic preservation of agricultural uses, preserve Richmond’s rural character, promote the preservation of open space, and support local production of food by allowing farms to offer certain agriculture-related or open space-related income-producing uses that may be open to the public.
(Ord. dated 7-19-16)
18.47.020 Definitions. The following words shall have the following meanings when used in this Chapter.
“Agricultural operation” means the cultivation of plants or the raising or breeding of livestock, or both, as a principal use of property.
“Brewery” means a facility for the manufacture of malt beverages in compliance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-6-1.2 that satisfies the following requirements:
1. At least twenty-five percent (25%) of the grain or hops used in manufacture must be grown on the premises.
2. Sale of food for consumption on the premises is prohibited.
3. Annual production shall not exceed 150,000 gallons.
“Farm” means an agricultural operation occupying twenty (20) or more contiguous acres that is owned or operated by an individual or business entity with a state farm tax number issued pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-18-30(32).
“Farm stand” means a retail outlet located on the same lot as a farm or a lot adjacent to a farm that sells fruit, vegetables, plants, farm-home-manufactured food items, or products produced on the premises, including but not limited to gardening or landscaping supplies or materials.
(Ord. dated 7-19-16)
18.47.030 Accessory uses.
A. The following uses shall be considered permitted accessory uses to a principal farm use.
1. Farm stand with buildings, outside sales areas, driveways and parking areas occupying a total of more than ten thousand (10,000) square feet at which products produced on or off the premises may be sold at retail.
2. Hay rides, tractor rides and sleigh rides.
3. Crop mazes.
4. Indoor or outdoor viewing, feeding, and petting of animals.
5. Indoor or outdoor agriculture-related classes and tours.
6. Indoor or outdoor display of antique vehicles and farm equipment.
7. Pick-your-own crops.
8. Passive outdoor recreation, including but not limited to hiking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, or horseshoe pitching.
9. Farm home food production in compliance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.1.
10. Sale of gardening or landscaping materials produced on the premises, including mulch, compost, potting soil, and soil amendments.
11. Winery using fruit, flowers, herbs, or vegetables grown on the premises in compliance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-6-1.1.
12. Brewery in compliance with R.I. Gen. Laws § 3-6-1.2.
B. Accessory uses established pursuant to this Chapter shall remain subordinate to the principal farm use, and their existence shall not be considered establishment of a legal nonconforming principal use.
C. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed as permitting a farm to host wedding receptions, parties, or similar private or public functions for remuneration.
(Ord. dated 7-19-16)
18.47.040 Development plan review.
A. The accessory uses permitted by subsections 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 11, and 12 of section 18.47.030 must receive development plan approval to ensure that the site can safely accommodate the public and that adequate parking is available.
(Ord. dated 5-21-24)
B. The application fees, including the pre-application conference fee and the base fee, shall not exceed a total of five hundred dollars ($500), notwithstanding the provisions of section 18.54.050 of this Title.
C. The administrative officer shall have the authority to waive or modify any requirement of Chapter 18.54 of this Title or the development plan review checklist contained in Article 15 of the land development and subdivision regulations with respect to the information and documents an applicant must submit if, in the professional opinion of the administrative officer, the information or document is not necessary for a comprehensive review of the proposed use. The planning board shall have the authority to request submission of any information or document omitted from the application pursuant to this subsection.
(Ord. dated 7-19-16)
18.47.050 Dimensional regulations.
A. Accessory buildings may be located in required front yards notwithstanding the requirements of section 18.20.020(H) of this Title.
B. A farm stand building shall have a ground floor area of no more than one thousand (1,000) square feet.
(Ord. dated 7-19-16)
18.47.060 Signs. The following signs are permitted for a farm that offers any of the accessory uses permitted by this Chapter.
A. One on-site sign, not larger than twenty-four (24) square feet in area, identifying the farm, pursuant to section 18.24.030(A) of this Title.
B. No more than four off-site directional signs located in the right of way of a town street that meet the following requirements.
1. The size, construction, and appearance of the sign must conform to the standards established by the R. I. department of environmental management and department of transportation agriculture and aquaculture sign program.
2. The zoning enforcement officer must issue a permit for the sign.
3. The director of the Richmond department of public works must approve the location of the sign.
(Ord. dated 7-19-16)
18.47.070 Impact mitigation requirements. The following measures to mitigate the impact of the accessory use on surrounding property apply to all accessory uses permitted by this Chapter.
A. Outdoor lighting shall have full cut-off fixtures approved by the International Dark Sky Association. Light shall be directed away from adjacent property.
B. Amplified outdoor sound systems shall not be used between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.
(Ord. dated 7-19-16)
REFERENCES
R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-27-6.1; § 3-6-1.1; § 3-6-1.2, § 44-18-30(32).
These amendments shall take effect on January 1, 2024.