Parking standards were a prominent topic of discussion, with the committee considering a townwide traffic safety standard and the enforcement of site visibility triangles and vegetation regulations to ensure traffic safety. The committee passed a vote on townwide traffic standards with a two to one split decision. The need for further data collection on parking capacity for agri-tourism events was also highlighted, as well as the necessity for parking to be on-site. Members discussed the requirement for parking to be on-site and the potential benefit for agri-tourism operators to understand this requirement. Additionally, there was debate regarding the number of parking spaces needed for agri-tourism events, with suggestions ranging from a ratio of one parking space for every three attendees.

The simplification of offsite parking procedures was also an issue. Current code requirements for offsite parking involve complicated paperwork and legal agreements, which some members found burdensome. The committee recommended eliminating the need for extensive paperwork to simplify the process. Furthermore, the committee agreed to investigate the need for a code revision to permit offsite parking under certain circumstances.

Light pollution was another critical concern. The committee discussed security lights causing light pollution at night and the direction in which these lights should face. There was a consensus on the need to regulate types of lights that generate potential offsite impacts, including open air parking area lights and residential and agricultural recreation lights. The possibility of placing lights on a timer and exemptions for certain events, like rodeos, from regulations on lighting were also talked about. Moreover, the committee examined recommendations for exemptions related to outdoor lighting and access standards for agri-tourism businesses.

Noise and lighting regulations were brought into the conversation, with recommendations made regarding the hours of operation for agri-tourism activities and the reassessment of townwide noise standards. The committee considered adding two more hours to the existing hours of operation and also talked about the requirement for security lights to face into the property rather than the street, including holidays in the hours of operation for agri-tourism activities.

Signage issues were addressed, with the committee expressing the need to address offsite signage and allowing agri-tourism operators to negotiate with neighbors for signage placement. Directional signs to guide visitors to agri-tourism operations were also discussed. In addition, the committee took up the topic of tax receipts for agri-tourism businesses and recommended reading a tool provided by the Town Association for information.

The meeting also covered the need for businesses to file exemption forms with the committee to protect themselves from potential complaints. There was a debate about whether to include the word “voluntary” on the forms. The content of their website and what information should be included about local businesses were also topics of discussion, with a suggestion to include a business description and offer free advertising on the website in exchange for completing a form.

Finally, the committee discussed the limitations of discussing ideas within the committee due to sunshine laws and the possibility of the committee becoming a standing committee. The meeting concluded with expressions of gratitude for the conversation and acknowledgment of the challenges faced during the discussions.