Event venues outside of the city limits offer a rustic and country feel for people and their guests to reconnect with their roots while celebrating life’s milestones, such as weddings, reunions and special events.

But when does the facility stop promoting rural life and start hindering the ability of others to maintain their rural livelihood?

That was the question posed at the Aug. 10 Tulare County Planning Commission meeting when a wedding venue was proposed on a portion of agriculture-zoned property north of Visalia. The venue would be located on four acres of the 37-acre property owned by Arie De Jong located on the northside of Avenue 328 between Highway 63 and Road 132 north of Visalia. The venue would operate from March to June and October to November with a total of 12 events per year. Events would be held from 2 to 11 p.m. and all music would cease at 10 p.m.


One neighbor said he was against the project because De Jong had called in a noise violation against him for playing music. “Now he’s doing the opposite, so I’m against it.”

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Another neighbor had a more legitimate complaint centered on her ability to farm next to the venue during events. The woman said she and her husband and son farm 25 acres of citrus next door to the property that is certified for food safety standards. She said the road leading from the parking lot to the event venue is powder dirt that would create huge amounts of dust, a major concern due to dust mites. She also said there are many times when they are notified of a window of time to spray for pests that they must comply with, only able to delay the spray by one day due to weather or some other circumstance.

“We have to keep our grove clean or we lose our certification,” she said.

A bigger issue, especially with the growing threat of the citrus pest known as Asian citrus psyllid, is the inability of farms to spray pesticides when there is a large gathering of people.

Tricia Steve Blattler, executive director of the Tulare County Farm Bureau, outlined the same concerns in an April 28 letter addressed to the project planner in addition to concerns of trespassing, waste and water use. “Even with the strong enforcement of Tulare County’s Right to Farm ordinance, this type of special use could compromise the ability of nearby agricultural land owners to conduct cultural practices, such as time sensitive applications of fertilizer, soil amendments, and plant nutrients, watering, operating equipment, pre and post-harvest practices and other agricultural practices that are necessary to conduct a viable farming operation.”

The venue’s operator, Nelia van der Vis, said she would be willing to pave the road between the parking lot and event area to control the dust. She also asked why mandatory spraying couldn’t be delayed by one day for her event when it can be delayed due to the wind to avoid drift.

Commissioner Wayne Millies suggested that the farmers provide the venue with a list of dates for when they cannot hold events rather than the other way around. He suggested both parties meet with staff to come up with a schedule for the events prior to approval.

Commissioner Bill Whitlach raised another issue of traffic. He said Avenue 328 has become a very busy road and the venue would need a way to “stack cars” coming off the road into the parking lot to avoid backing up traffic.

“You created a road and that needs to be addressed,” he said.

Commissioner Nancy Pitigliano said the applicant would be required to sign a “Right to Farm notice” as part of the conditional use permit but that the wording was “wishy washy” when it came to enforcing the notice and that signing it doesn’t protect the venue from liability for exposing residents to ag related chemicals. She encouraged a motion to continue the matter until some of the issues could be resolved.

“As chair, I feel that I am confused and that there are things that need to be addressed,” Pitigliano said.

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