Town gives go-ahead for farm to host outdoor events

After a dozen neighbors voiced concerns about a proposed bed-and-breakfast and event venue at last month’s Town of Grafton Plan Commission meeting, plans for Golden Belles Farm are moving ahead.

The commission on Feb. 5 approved a conditional-use permit for owner Kira Behrens but added an amendment requiring her to remove portable toilets within two business days of an event.

Behrens plans to start an organic farm on her property at 1235 E. Sauk Rd., which is zoned for agricultural uses, and use the property for events and the five-bedroom house as an inn for as many as 10 guests, which requires a conditional-use permit.

Plans call for produce from the farm to be sold through a stand on the site, at farmers markets and to local restaurants. 

Behrens said she would also like to host farm-to-table dinners for 40 to 50 people in an on-site garden. 

Behrens initially said she wanted to make improvements to the property, including additions and renovations to several buildings. In her permit application, she  listed various events for 15 to 150 people that could be held on the property four times per week. 

“That’s my biggest concern because we’ve all seen this before,” resident Steve Betts said during the commission’s Jan. 8 meeting, referring to large events held on the property.

About 10 residents were in attendance at the Feb. 5 meeting, but none spoke publicly.

At the January meeting, other neighbors voiced concerns about amplified music, outside floodlights, portable toilets and having as many as 171 parking spaces in a residential neighborhood. The residents who spoke did not have issues with farming or a bed-and-breakfast on the property.

The commission tabled taking action on the permit request during last month’s meeting.

Behrens subsequently revised her initial plan and said she will scale back the frequency of events for the first year of operations and install an 8-foot-tall fence along the neighboring property line off East Sauk Road. She said there would not be more than 100 people at an event in the immediate future.

Behrens also said she conducted a sound test and that the loudest level of noise the neighbors could hear would be about the same decibel range as a refrigerator.

Behrens said she will widen her driveway to 20 feet to meet fire-code requirements and install fire safety equipment and a sprinkler system for large events.

“I commend you for taking a shot and trying to save the farm and do something commercial with it,” commission member Dan Vogel told Behrens.