Agritourism takes center stage at P&Z meeting

SALISBURY — A local farmer met with the Planning and Zoning Commission during its regular meeting on Feb. 18 for a pre-application discussion surrounding altering zoning regulations surrounding agritourism.

Robert Taylor, who runs Sleepy Cow Farm in Lakeville, was joined by attorney Daniel Casagrande of Cramer & Anderson LLP to present the proposed amendment to the regulations. Salisbury currently does not have explicit zoning for agritourism businesses, and Casagrande and Taylor urged that the commission consider allowing agritourism on local farms via special permit approval.

Casagrande presented a draft of the proposed regulation to the commission, defining agritourism as an “activity conducted on a farm that is offered to a member of the general public or to invited guests for the purpose of education, recreation, or active involvement in the farm operation.”

The draft offered examples of agritourism activities, including hay rides, produce picking, petting farms, wedding or event hosting and pumpkin patches, among others.

The regulation draft stated that activities categorized as agritourism be allowed in the RR-1 (residential) zone given that it complies with the proposed restrictions, which include specifications and limitations regarding acreage, parking, location and operating hours. The draft is available for public review on P&Z’s meeting documents webpage.

P&Z Chair Michael Klemens expressed hesitation to alter zoning regulations in reference to a single applicant, citing public misunderstanding following a 2024 alteration to hotel zoning that allowed for restricted hotel development in the RR-1 zone.

Klemens instead advocated for addressing the lack of agritourism zoning as part of a broader overhaul of Salisbury’s zoning regulations that is planned to ramp up over the next year.

Klemens maintained that addressing farms and farm operations — including agritourism — in the zoning review is a top priority: “We have a lot of work to do… if we’re going to protect farms and the farm way of life – not just have them be a backdrop to development, but actually to have real farms.”

Other commissioners similarly expressed their desire to see the town’s farms flourish, but agreed with Klemens that any amendments to zoning regulations must be done carefully and according to process. Klemens said that it may take a year to 18 months to establish new zoning regulations surrounding agritourism.

Attorney Casagrande said he was disappointed that the proposal wasn’t well received, but said that the conversation was productive and expressed his desire to continue collaborating with the commission as it moves towards altering the regulations. “There’s a lot of good stuff that came out of tonight that I think we can work on, and we can work on it quickly and effectively,” he said.

Latest News

Racecars roar in NASCAR’s return to Lime Rock Park

High-speed action made for a weekend of excitement at Lime Rock Park Friday and Saturday, June 27-28.

Photo by Simon Markow

LAKEVILLE — For the first time since 2011, Lime Rock Park hosted National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing events June 27 and 28.

It was billed as the largest event in modern track history with an estimated 20,000 fans attending.

Keep ReadingShow less
Joseph Robert Meehan

SALISBURY — Joseph Robert Meehan the 2nd,photographer, college professor and nearly 50 year resident of Salisbury, passed away peacefully at Noble Horizon on June 17, 2025. He was 83.

He was the son of Joseph Meehan the 1st and his mother, Anna Burawa of Levittown, New York, and sister Joanne, of Montgomery, New York.

Keep ReadingShow less
Florence Olive Zutter Murphy

STANFORDVILLE, New York — It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Florence Olive Zutter Murphy, who went home to be with the Lord on June 16, 2025, at the age of 99.

She was born in Sharon, Connecticut on Nov. 20, 1925, and was a long time resident of the Dutchess County area.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chore Service hosts annual garden party fundraiser

Chore Service hosted 250 supporters at it’s annual Garden Party fundraiser.

Bob Ellwood

On Saturday, June 21, Mort Klaus, longtime Sharon resident, hosted 250 enthusiastic supporters of Northwest Corner’s beloved nonprofit, Chore Service at his stunning 175-acre property. Chore Service provides essential non-medical support to help older adults and those with disabilities maintain their independence and quality of life in their own homes.

Jane MacLaren, Executive Director, and Dolores Perotti, Board President, personally welcomed arriving attendees. The well-stocked bar and enticing hors d’oeuvres table were popular destinations as the crowd waited for the afternoon’s presentations.

Keep ReadingShow less