Planning Proposal & Draft DCP - Agritourism in Rural Areas

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The planning proposal seeks to support agritourism and small-scale agricultural development and amends The Hills Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2019 to:

  1. Permit farm gate premises, with consent, in the RU6 Transition zone. Farm gate premises provide visitors to a farm with agricultural products predominantly from the farm or services or activities related to the products (including uses such as shopfronts with produce tastings, farmgate sales, cooking classes or fruit-picking experiences).

  2. Introduce new Standard Instrument LEP Clauses 5.24 for farm stay accommodation and 5.25 for farm gate premises, which aim to provide an appropriate balance between providing flexibility for farmers to operate these activities whilst giving sufficient opportunity to consider and mitigate any potential impacts on rural character and amenity as part of the Development Assessment process.

It is noted that development for farm gate premises and farm stay accommodation can only occur in association with a commercial farm operation.

Draft amendments are also proposed to Part B Section 1 – Rural and Part C Section 1 – Parking of The Hills Development Control Plan (DCP) 2012 to ensure appropriate development outcomes are achieved and mitigate any potential impacts of the agritourism activities on rural character and amenity.

Public Exhibition Period: Monday 12 February 2024 to Friday 22 March 2024.

Submission Deadline: 5pm, Friday 22 March 2024.

Enquiries:

Erika Juan, Graduate Town Planner, 9843 0283

Jessie Wiseman, Strategic Planning Coordinator, 9843 0122



The planning proposal seeks to support agritourism and small-scale agricultural development and amends The Hills Local Environmental Plan (LEP) 2019 to:

  1. Permit farm gate premises, with consent, in the RU6 Transition zone. Farm gate premises provide visitors to a farm with agricultural products predominantly from the farm or services or activities related to the products (including uses such as shopfronts with produce tastings, farmgate sales, cooking classes or fruit-picking experiences).

  2. Introduce new Standard Instrument LEP Clauses 5.24 for farm stay accommodation and 5.25 for farm gate premises, which aim to provide an appropriate balance between providing flexibility for farmers to operate these activities whilst giving sufficient opportunity to consider and mitigate any potential impacts on rural character and amenity as part of the Development Assessment process.

It is noted that development for farm gate premises and farm stay accommodation can only occur in association with a commercial farm operation.

Draft amendments are also proposed to Part B Section 1 – Rural and Part C Section 1 – Parking of The Hills Development Control Plan (DCP) 2012 to ensure appropriate development outcomes are achieved and mitigate any potential impacts of the agritourism activities on rural character and amenity.

Public Exhibition Period: Monday 12 February 2024 to Friday 22 March 2024.

Submission Deadline: 5pm, Friday 22 March 2024.

Enquiries:

Erika Juan, Graduate Town Planner, 9843 0283

Jessie Wiseman, Strategic Planning Coordinator, 9843 0122