Called agricultural tourism, the new land uses are designed to give farmers another way to make money.

Not every farmer will qualify, nor will every piece of rural land be covered. To carry out agricultural tourism, a farmer will have to have his land made part of a voluntary agricultural district - a designation that requires a farmer to manage the land according to conservation practices.

Also, the agricultural tourism rules will require a farm to cover at least 20 acres to qualify. The farm would have to be in areas of the county designated as rural.

“Last year, I turned down 25 weddings,” Bob Dalton said during the public hearing.

Dalton grows muscadine grapes near the Yadkin River for use in a health supplement.

“People wanted to use my vineyards,” he said. “I just don’t have the facilities to be able to take care of it.”

Under the agricultural-tourism provisions, outdoor weddings are among the events that farmers could hold on their land, providing they meet the other requirements.

Also speaking in favor of agricultural tourism were Brent Boydston, who boards horses on a farm on Belews Creek Road, and Don Nielson, an attorney.

Nielson said that other counties have agricultural tourism and that the new rules would help Forsyth County vineyards.

The regulations have a variety of other requirements designed to keep business uses small when carried out as part of agricultural tourism, as well as limiting the impact it would have on rural neighbors:

? Buildings and parking lots associated with a restaurant or store have to be at least 150 feet from the property lines of adjacent landowners. And all other agricultural-tourism uses have to be at least 75 feet from the property line.

? A restaurant would have a maximum capacity of 150 people. By contrast, planners say, most restaurants being built in high-retail areas have seating capacities of 250 to 400 people.

? Specialty or general-merchandise stores would be limited to 1,500 square feet.

? Outdoor special events would be limited to crowds of 500. They could take place no more than six times a month for three consecutive days each.

Planning staffers have said that some of the activities that might take place under agricultural-tourism regulations include winery tours, educational farm tours, corn mazes and outdoor weddings. They said that the size limitations on restaurant and retail uses are designed to keep the new regulations from being a “back-door” route to commercial zoning.

Commissioner Walter Marshall said he was concerned that the restaurant provision might open a door for chain restaurants to take advantage of new locations.

City-County Planning Director Paul Norby said that the size limit on restaurants should keep that from happening, and said that commissioners can always revise the ordinance if problems arise.

¦ Wesley Young can be reached at 727-7369 or at wyoung@wsjournal.com.