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Revised Agritourism Ordinance Sent to County Commission

Lakeland Ledger – May 6, 2011

BARTOW | Polk County Planning Commission voted 6-1 Wednesday to send a revised agritourism ordinance to the County Commission.

The ordinance, which grew out of the controversy over the Safari Wild project in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern, places restrictions on the intensity of the operation regarding traffic and the number of structures allowed on the site.

In addition, the regulations require a public hearing on proposals that include exotic animals.

The changes came in response to concerns raised by the Florida Department of Community Affairs, which oversees development in the Green Swamp Area of Critical State Concern, and neighboring property owners.

In addition, agritourism is intended to be an accessory use of existing agricultural operations.

Commissioner John Ryan said he has spoken with officials at the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services, which he said has no agritourism expert.

He said he learned department officials are watching the Polk’s action because they are interested in differentiating between commercial operations and legitimate agricultural operations.

Lois Murphy, whose family has ranching operations in the area, said her main concern is whether there were adequate controls to make sure the operation remains compatible to surrounding farming operations.

The proposed Safari Wild development, which began development quietly in 2009, made headlines when monkeys on the site escaped and roamed onto adjacent ranches.

The property, which now goes under the name of Florida Wildlife Ranch, contains exotic animals ranging from antelope to rhinoceros.

Growth Management Director Tom Deardorff said there are adequate restrictions in the regulations to controls impacts.

In a letter to county officials, Murphy complained that the ordinance was being written specifically to accommodate the project, whose previous approval was overturned last year by a state hearing officer.

Dr. Stephen Wehrmann, a St. Petersburg veterinarian who is one of the property’s owners, argued that there will be no problems.

“The goal of agritourism is to allow small farms to diversity their income,’’ he said. “The idea that this will turn into Busch Gardens in ludicrous.”

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