Stanislaus County leaders give consent to wedding venues on ag land

Stanislaus County will allow commercial wedding venues on agricultural land so long as they don’t conflict with farming or create problems for neighbors.

Supervisors unanimously approved the change to the zoning ordinance Tuesday. No one spoke at the public hearing to signal an interest in running a wedding business.

One supervisor said the county, with its scenic farmland, would be ideal for something like Lodi’s Wine & Roses.

Commercial vendors will need to apply for a use permit, allowing the county to tack on conditions for operating hours, the number of events, attendance, parking and other rules to prevent flare-ups with neighbors. Each permit will be tailored to that particular venue.

The outdoor venues will be prohibited on farmland under Williamson Act contracts, which provide tax savings for keeping the land in agriculture.

The county tried to create policies for commercial wedding venues in 2007, but virtually no one liked the proposed ordinance. There still was interest in outdoor wedding sites in the county jurisdiction, and a new staff-driven proposal finally came back to the board.

Along with weddings, the amendment will allow special events such as graduations, reunions or quinceaneras.

Supervisor Terry Withrow said wedding venues are a good way to promote the county’s agricultural heritage.

Supervisor Jim DeMartini said other land uses tend to interfere with agricultural harvests or spraying. But the county has authority to revoke the permits if there are conflicts, he said.

This story was originally published November 1, 2016 at 5:27 PM with the headline "Stanislaus County leaders give consent to wedding venues on ag land."