The Deschutes County Planning Commission has again delayed action on recommendations for dealing with regulation of events on agricultural land.
In protracted discussion at a Jan. 12 meeting the commissioners decided not to decide and rescheduled another session for Jan. 26, again to consider “text amendments” to the county code to recommend to the three-member county commission.
For the past several years the county has tossed around the hot potato farmland events policy. The new urgency comes as the result of Oregon Senate Bill 960 which opens the way for more “agri-tourism” events on land zoned Exclusive Farm Use.
The county has the option through the county code text amendments to place certain restrictions on events. These can address traffic safety and security, sanitation, and noise levels, the latter which has become a significant point of contention in public testimony and the planning commission’s discussion.
