Private greenhouses are now allowed as a conditional use in Farmington's residential areas following the amending of the city's zoning ordinance at the request of the Lagoon Corp.
The company in April asked to rezone a home and lot it owns on Main Street from residential to commercial to build greenhouses on a lower bench area of the property.The flowers grown in the greenhouses are to be used for landscaping at Lagoon and not for resale or commercial use, according to park executives.
The request to rezone the property to commercial brought nearly 100 nearby residents out to a public hearing. Most opposed to the bid because they fear further expansion of the park's rides and amusements into their residential neighborhood.
Although opposed to the rezone, the residents indicated they don't oppose construction of the greenhouses, which won't be visible from Main Street.
The council tabled the request twice, sent it back to the planning commission for further study once, referred it to the city attorney once for his opinion, and this week decided to allow non-commercial greenhouses in residential zones as a conditional use.
Councilmembers spent neary 30 minutes Wednesday working on definitions of "non-commercial," trying to make its intent clear. The greenhouses will be for personal use and no retail sales on the property are allowed.
The council acknowledged it cannot control persons growing plants for commercial, off-site sale, such as taking flats of plants to nurseries or stores for resale, or persons selling a few potted plants to their neighbors.
The amended ordinance allows greenhouses defined as non-accessory buildings, with no retail sales on the premises, as a conditional use. Applications for a conditional use permit will be reviewed by the city before being approved.