The text
(a)
Upon any large, intermediate or small farm, as defined herein, the retail sales activities listed below are uses permitted by right.
(1)
Retail sales of farm products and farm related products.
(2)
Sale of compost or manure produced on the premises only.
(3)
Sale of mulch of vegetative origin, such as bark mulch. No more than one hundred fifty (150) cubic yards of mulch may be stockpiled on the premises at any one time. Sale of mulch composed of earth products such as stone, sand, or loam shall be prohibited.
(4)
Sale of timber or other wood products from raw material grown on site.
(b)
Retail sales permitted by right in this chapter may take place 1) outdoors anywhere upon the lot constituting the premises of the farm; or 2) within a farm retail sales building (see subsection (c) below) located on the premises of the farm; or 3) at a farm stand (see subsection (e) below).
(c)
Farm retail sales building. Retail sales of farm products and farm-related products may be conducted on a farm as provided for in this chapter.
(1)
Within a principal dwelling; or
(2)
Within a barn, garage, storage shed or similar accessory farm building; or
(3)
Within a single building devoted solely to retail sales provided the total cumulative floor area of such building does not exceed one thousand two hundred (1,200) square feet.
Any building or portion of a building in which such sales occur shall be considered a farm retail sales building.
A barn, garage, or a green house shall not be considered to be a farm retail sales building if no retail sales are conducted anywhere within the building and if such buildings are not open to the public.
Storage areas not open to the public shall not be counted toward the maximum floor area.
A greenhouse that is open to the public shall not be counted toward the maximum floor area provided that only plants grown in the greenhouse may be stored or sold in the greenhouse.
Farm retail sales buildings shall meet the minimum yard setback distances for the zoning district in which the building is located.
(d)
Sale of food or food products within a farm retail sales building on a large farm is permitted as follows:
(1)
Prepared food items such as baked goods, sandwiches and meals, canned goods, preserves, herbs and the like may be sold provided that all food preparation and cooking is conducted upon the farm and within a kitchen licensed by the State of Rhode Island and the Town of Hopkinton. An exception to this is deli meats, breads and condiments and bottled or canned drinks that may be obtained from off the farm.
(2)
Prepared foods may be consumed on the premises.
(3)
Fresh or frozen meats, prepared or smoked meats, poultry or other perishable foods that are raised, prepared and packaged upon the farm premises.
(4)
Food sale operations shall comply with all applicable State of Rhode Island and Town of Hopkinton Codes.
(e)
Farm stands. Farm stands located on large, intermediate or small farms shall not exceed two hundred (200) square feet in total floor area and twelve (12) feet in height. There shall be no space available to patrons inside the farm stand. Farm stands may however, provide a front counter security shutter that lifts to form a canopy roof when open for business, to shield patrons at the counter from rain and sun. Farm stands shall not be subject to minimum yard setbacks, but in all cases shall be set back from the edge of a public or private right-of-way by a minimum of fifteen (15) feet.
(f)
Off-street parking. Any structure or use, erected or constructed after the date of passage of this ordinance, shall provide off-street parking facilities in accordance with the following minimum requirements:
(1)
Farm retail sales building. One (1) space for every one hundred (100) square feet of floor area devoted to sales with a minimum of five (5) spaces provided. All such parking areas shall be on private property, and set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from the paved portion of the street and shall be physically restricted or channeled on the lot to define a readily recognizable driveway. There are no off-street loading requirements for farm retail sales buildings.
(2)
A farm-based service business shall provide a minimum number of off-street parking spaces in accordance with the appropriate use category requirement in Section 28 of Appendix A, Zoning. Parking for a farm conference center or a riding school shall be located at least fifty (50) feet from all property lines and shall be screened from residential abutters.
(3)
Farm stand. Minimum of two (2) spaces. All such parking areas shall be on private property, off the edge of a public or private right-of-way for a farm stand and set back a minimum of ten (10) feet from the paved portion of the street for a farm retail sales building and shall be physically restricted or channeled on the lot to define a readily recognizable driveway. There are no off-street loading requirements for farm stands.
(Ch. 173, § III, 9-2-03)