SENATE BILL REPORT

HB 2563

As Reported By Senate Committee On:

Land Use & Planning, February 26, 2004

Title: An act relating to providing nonagricultural commercial and retail uses that support and sustain agricultural operations on designated agricultural lands of long-term significance.

Brief Description: Providing nonagricultural commercial and retail uses that support and sustain agricultural operations on designated agricultural lands of long-term significance.

Sponsors: Representatives Upthegrove, Jarrett, Schindler, Newhouse, Linville and Clibborn.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Land Use & Planning: 2/23/04, 2/26/04 [DP].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LAND USE & PLANNING

Majority Report: Do pass.

      Signed by Senators Mulliken, Chair; Kline, Morton, Murray and T. Sheldon.

Staff: Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background: The state's Growth Management Act requires both conservation of productive agricultural land and also maintenance and enhancement of agricultural industries. Interest groups have collaborated on a legislative proposal to allow agricultural zoning to include accessory uses that help the economic viability of the agricultural enterprise.

Summary of Bill: Agricultural zoning can allow accessory uses that support, promote, or sustain agricultural operations and production. The accessory uses must not interfere with natural resource land uses and must be accessory to the growing of crops or raising of animals. Those of a commercial or retail nature must predominately involve regional agricultural products, products derived from them, experiences related to agriculture, or products produced on site. New or existing buildings, parking, and other uses that support the accessory uses must be consistent with the size and scale of the agricultural buildings and must not otherwise convert land to nonagricultural uses.

Accessory uses can include compatible commercial or retail uses, such as storage; production, sales, and marketing of value-added agricultural products; sources of supplemental on-farm income that supports the agricultural use; support services for production, marketing, and distribution of agricultural products; and sales and marketing of regional agricultural products and experiences, locally made art and crafts, and their ancillary retail activities.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For: This gives farms needed flexibility to diversify operations in order to stay in business, but keeps in place the protection of agricultural land and ability to farm. It is identical to the companion bill which passed the Senate.

Testimony Against: None.

Testified: PRO: Representative Upthegrove, prime sponsor; Scott Merriman, Assn. of Cities; Dan Wood, Farm Bureau.