Leelanau Township unanimously approved a zoning amendment to allow farm stay campgrounds as a special land use in the agricultural zoning district at its Oct. 8 regular meeting. The approval gives farmers the option if eligible to add value to an existing commercial farming operation through farm stay campgrounds and obtaining a special land use permit from the township in the process.
The farm stay campsite concept and zoning amendment has been something Hallstedt Homestead owners’ Phil and Sarah Hallstedt originally approached the township about several years ago. Earlier this year, they submitted an application and proposed language for a zoning ordinance text amendment that would allow farm stay campsites as part of a new agrotourism section of the zoning ordinance.
“I am thrilled as the community took a step to strengthen and support many, many working farms in Leelanau Township. The next step is for our farm, Hallstedt Homestead Cherries, to apply for the special use permit, and if successful, we would hope to be open for farm stays in May 2025,” said Phil.
Phil explained how the number one item in the township’s strategic plan is to support and encourage agriculture. However, he added that the reality in talking to farmers is there’s been very little actually done that can be substantial to help the farmers. The township approving of this zoning amendment is a big move though, he said, as this is a way for farmers to generate non agricultural, on-farm income.
“If they (farmers) could work on their property and either replace or improve on that income coming to them, that’s a win-win,” Phil said. “This is a way to have low density, low impact, additional income, and hopefully, make a difference for some of the farming communities to strengthen and support them.”
Leelanau Township Supervisor Mike McMillan said the approval of the zoning amendment is a great example of the discipline by all parties involved to follow a process.
“... Some could argue that the process is too deliberate, but when it comes to policy changes involving our land and water, deliberate is good,” McMillan said. “Credit goes to Phil Hallstedt (property owner) and Steve Patmore (zoning administrator) for seeing the process from point A to Z. I’ve sat through a number of these meetings and the level of questions asked by the planning commission should reassure residents that their concerns are represented in these meetings.”
In the months ahead, Phil said they plan to apply for the ordinance, and once approval is granted, they will order materials and other equipment to move forward with constructing campsites.
“We’re really excited about seeing what our creativity and the land and the atmosphere of the farm can create,” Phil said. “But all of this is around the idea of education, this is not purely lodging. This is about educating people about agriculture, so I think that’s going to be one of the big lifts, is just creating a curriculum to talk to them about working farms… My vision is that we don’t have farmers who are surviving, my goal is that we have farms that are thriving up here on the peninsula. And maybe this is one key element for them to thrive and get excited about farming, not just cherry farming, but all kinds of farming.”
According to the amendment, minimum location standards for farm stay campgrounds include notable points like how the minimum gross parcel or tract size will be set at 30 acres, with the size of the parcel, topography and surrounding land uses being factors in determining if an application qualifi es for a special use permit, as well as the number of allowable campsites. It’s also noted, among other standards, that the maximum number of active campsites in a farmstay campground will not exceed three sites for a parcel of 30 acres in size, and four active sites for a 40 acres parcel. The maximum number of campers on any campsite includes either four adults or two adults and children, while the maximum length of stay for any camper will be three weeks.
To read the zoning amendment in its entirety online, which includes more information regarding requirements for farm stay campsites, go to leelanautownshipmi. gov/meetingminutes- planning-commission.
