SCA Opposes Ag Reserve Farm Lodging Proposal 

The Montgomery County Council is scheduled in January to begin debate on a proposal allowing overnight accommodations in permanent structures in the Ag Reserve. The proposal is known as a zoning text amendment, or ZTA. SCA opposes the proposal. Our updated position statement on the proposal is below. Read more here and contact your County Council representative with your viewpoint.

SCA Recommends Public Dialogue on Farm Lodging

SCA is opposed to the ZTA. It is overly broad, poorly justified, and could set a perilous precedent. The measure should be pulled from Council consideration. This is too big a change to Ag Reserve zoning and policy to move forward without a much better understanding of the interest of farmers and the impact on the Ag Reserve. The Council and County Executive should consider supporting a public dialogue in 2024 on the status and future direction of agritourism in the Ag Reserve, which is only one component of supporting agriculture in Montgomery County. That dialogue could include a full evaluation of whether permitting overnight stays on Ag Reserve farms is of interest to farmers and residents and, if so, how best that might be done.

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