§ 153.031 PRINCIPAL PERMITTED USES.

   In an Agricultural District, no building or land shall be used and no building shall be erected except for one or more of the following uses.

   (A)   (1)   General and specialized farming of agricultural products and agricultural activities, including the raising or growing of crops, livestock, poultry, bees and other farm animals, products and foodstuffs. Any building or structure may be located thereon and used for the day-to-day operation of such activities, for the storage or preservation of said crops or animals, products and collection, distribution or processing, and for the incidental sale of crops, products and foodstuffs raised or grown on said parcel or in said building or structure.

      (2)   The following additional agricultural uses shall be permitted:

         (a)   Storage, retail or wholesale marketing, or processing of agricultural products into a value-added agricultural product is a permitted use in a farming operation if more than 50% of the stored, processed or merchandised products are produced by the farm operator for at least three of the immediately preceding five years;

         (b)   Cider mills or wineries selling product, in a tasting room, derived from crops grown primarily on-site for at least three of the immediately preceding five years, provided that the premises is licensed by the State Liquor Control Commission;

         (c)   Direct marketing of produce in a farm market or on-farm market provided that any building or combination of buildings used for such purposes contain a total of not more than 2,500 square feet. A temporary roadside stand shall also be permitted provided that it shall comply with all regulations set forth in § 153.033(B)(3);

         (d)   Seasonal U-pick fruits and vegetables operations;

         (e)   Seasonal outdoors mazes of agricultural origin such as straw bales or corn;

         (f)   Food sales/processing, processing any fruits/produce;

         (g)   Uses in divisions (A)(2)(b) through (A)(2)(f) above may include any or all of the following ancillary agriculturally related uses and some non-agriculturally related uses so long as the general agricultural character of the farm is maintained and the income from these activities represents less than 50% of the gross receipts from the farm:

            1.   Value-added agricultural products or activities such as education tours or processing facilities and the like;

            2.   Bakeries selling baked goods containing produce grown primarily on-site (e.g., minimum 50%);

            3.   Playgrounds or equipment typical of a school playground, such as slides, swings and the like (not including motorized vehicles or rides);

            4.   Petting farms, animal display and pony rides;

            5.   Wagon, sleigh and hayrides;

            6.   Nature trails;

            7.   Open air or covered picnic area with restrooms;

            8.   Educational classes, lectures and seminars;

            9.   Historical agricultural exhibits;

            10.   Kitchen facilities, processing/cooking items for sale;

            11.   Gift shops for the sale of agricultural products and agriculturally related products; and

            12.   Gift shops for the sale of non-agriculturally related products such as antiques or crafts, limited to 25% of gross sales.

         (h)   Non-agriculturally related uses listed as permitted uses above may include the following ancillary uses as temporary land uses: small-scale entertainment (e.g., music concert, car show or art fair), family-oriented animated barns (e.g., fun houses, haunted houses or similar) and small mechanical rides provided that:

            1.   A temporary use permit shall be obtained from the Zoning Administrator. Said temporary use permit shall be valid for only one period of use. A fee may be charged for said permit;

            2.   Said use shall be permitted only for one period per year not to exceed consecutive 60 days;

            3.   Applicant must provide evidence of liability insurance coverage, acceptable to the township, of not less than $1,000,000;

            4.   Inspections shall be conducted by the Building Inspector, and other officials as may be required, prior to the period of use. Evidence of approval in the form of an inspection certificate shall be provided to the Zoning Administrator prior to the issuance of a temporary land use permit. A fee may be charged covering the cost of such inspection(s) and certificate(s); and

            5.   Notwithstanding other provisions of this chapter, said use need not be accessory to a bona fide farm or agricultural use provided that:

               a.   It is located on a parcel of not less than five acres; and

               b.   Has been in existence, has been lawfully approved by the township, and has been operated for at least one season prior to the effective date of this chapter provision.

   (B)   Single-family homes in accordance with § 153.150 and, where applicable, § 153.151;

   (C)   State licensed family day care homes;

   (D)   Public buildings without outdoor storage yard;

   (E)   Home occupations; and

   (F)   Uses similar to the principal permitted uses listed above may be permitted by the Planning Commission based upon findings of fact.

(Ord. passed 10-11-2000; Ord. 26, passed 6-10-2009; Ord. 36, passed 6-8-2016) Penalty, see § 153.999