By Beecher Threatt
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The Board of County Commissioners took steps on Tuesday to allow agricultural operations in the county to sell products from produce stands or markets onsite. Revising its list of land use priorities for consideration by the Ouray County Planning Commission, the BOCC added produce stands and placed it above other items in the priority list.
County Planner Mark Castrodale brought commissioners a possible amendment to the definition of farming/ranching in the Land Use Code, requested by commissioners in a work session, which would be the most efficient way of accomplishing their goal. Commissioners agreed to send the issue to the OCPC and await its recommendation.
Castrodale and interim county attorney David Masters came up with wording that would add as an agricultural use "on-site, outdoor, seasonal, direct-to-consumer produce stands or
markets, which are incidental to the primary function of the property as a working farm or ranch,
that offer for sale products produced within Ouray County."
Commissioner Lynn Padgett suggested broadening the definition to include sale of any item produced, crafted or created on the Western Slope. That would allow sale of food items made by farmers and produce brought in from nearby farms, such as Olathe corn and Palisade peaches.
A related issue is the placement of signs directing buyers to such stands or markets, which will require revision of section 8 of the Land Use Code. That would be a priority for OCPC, but it may not be addressed and implemented in time for this year's growing season. Commissioners asked interim county attorney Kathryn Sellars to draft a resolution that would allow signs, with certain restrictions, until Dec. 31, 2012. That would give the county an opportunity to see how allowing signs would work and would bridge the gap until the OCPC can take it up.