The Hall County Board of Commissioners Thursday night voted to approve an agri-entertainment venue in North Hall that will offer horseback riding lessons, animal therapy, farm tours and more.
The initial motion to approve the venue was put forward by Commissioner Gregg Poole, who represents District 3 in Hall County.
While the motion was to approve the venue, there were several additional conditions placed on the development.
Notably, Poole reduced the number of parking spots allowed at the site from 15 to 10. He also set forward a more stringent timeframe under which business might be conducted at the site. From March until November, the business, known as Ivy Rose Farms, will be open from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. Following the onset of daylight savings, the business will only be allowed to operate between 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Poole cited that limiting the hours was due to the skinny roads leading up to the farm, making their traversal difficult at night.
Original story published Oct. 24 at 8:30 p.m.:
The Hall County Board of Commissioners Thursday will vote on an agri-entertainment venue in North Hall that will offer horseback riding lessons, animal therapy, farm tours and more.
The request by the applicant, Laura Labovitz, is for a Use Subject to County Commission Approval, which would grant Labovitz the ability to conduct entertainment venue business on her property if successfully obtained. The area in question is a 31.02-acre plot of land located at 7042 Baker Lane, northwest of Clermont.
Labovitz aims to conduct horseback riding lessons, equine and farm animal-assisted therapy, farming and animal husbandry classes, event hosting, farm tours and goat and dairy operation sales, according to documents provided by the county.
Agri-entertainment is traditionally defined as a “gathering of individuals for social, celebratory or entertainment purposes at an agricultural location located in an agricultural district, wherein a fee is charged by the owner or representative of the property,” county documents state.
The submitted site plan depicts six different buildings, including a residence, shed, cottage, storage building, milk parlor and a new barn with a covered breezeway.
Weekly traffic to the facility is not currently expected to exceed 35 cars, according to the county.
The application went before the Hall County Planning Commission on Sept. 18, where it was given a recommendation of approval with several tacked-on conditions.
Some of those conditions include stipulations that no weddings will be conducted on the property, operational hours will be between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. and plans for any new improvements or development shall be submitted for review.
The property is situated in Commission District 3, which is represented by Hall Commissioner Gregg Poole.
During the applications hearing before the Planning Commission, five people spoke against the item, citing concerns for traffic, dirt roads and dust, noise, reduction in property values and loss of privacy.
Inversely, four people spoke in favor, saying the venue would be an asset to the community, offering educational experiences and therapeutic options for nearby residents.
The application will go before the Hall County Board of Commissioners for a final vote on Thursday at 6 p.m. in the Hall County Government Center.
