Lower Towamensing Township on Tuesday ruled on an agritourism request at the Quiet Hills Lavender Farm, allowing some uses and putting restrictions in place.

The township’s zoning hearing board met on Tuesday to render a decision on the March 10, 2025 appeal by Christopher and Sheri Anthony regarding their desire to conduct operations on their lavender farm at 1995 Hemlock St. The Anthonys were applying for an exception of agritourism at the farm, which is not a use stated in the R-C zoning district.

The decision follows months worth of hearings on the family-owned and operated Quiet Hills Lavender Farm.

Quiet Hills Lavender Farm, once used for religious retreats, was purchased by the Anthonys in 2015. They later constructed a 40-foot by 80-foot pole barn, which is primarily used for agricultural, a permitted use in a rural conservation district.

Chris Anthony said they have about 7,000 plants on the farm and offer tours to guests.

The Anthonys wanted to add crafting classes, yoga, religious retreats, business meetings, birthday parties, anniversary parties, graduation ceremonies and weddings.

Issues detailed

Board Chairman James Ord outlined five issues the Anthonys have appealed to the zoning hearing board.

• Permits issued: Ord first addressed whether the zoning officer acted appropriately in granting permits to the Anthonys. He said the officer acted based on the information available at the time and recommended referring the matter to the zoning hearing board. The board approved the motion.

• Validity of the ordinance: Ord said the appeal challenges the zoning ordinance because ag-tourism is not permitted by right anywhere in the township.

“This argument is weakened by the fact that ag-tourism is a new and evolving term that is intrinsically woven into commercial definitions,” Ord said. He noted the ordinance provides options for uses not previously considered in a zoning district.

Ord made a motion finding the ordinance is not exclusionary and provides a clear path for unaddressed uses. The motion passed.

• Accessory uses: Ord said many of the activities proposed by the Anthonys — including weddings, showers, festivals, picnics, anniversaries and funeral wakes — do not require lavender and are typical commercial activities. He added the township engineer testified the property’s principal use is residential.

“The Anthonys are starting to use it for agricultural purposes, but a change-of-use permit was not submitted,” Ord said.

He then made a motion that the requested activities are not accessory uses. The motion was approved.

• Estoppel: Ord said the zoning officer was not informed the pole building could be used for commercial purposes. He noted construction began in April 2024 and discussions about ag-tourism occurred afterward.

He made a motion that the township is not prevented from asserting that ag-tourism is not permitted in the R-C zoning district. The motion passed.

• Uses not addressed by the ordinance: Ord moved that the board review the proposed uses at the lavender farm using the list in Anthony Exhibit A-25. The board would consider each item individually, vote to allow or deny it and impose conditions to ensure compatibility with the R-C district and surrounding neighborhood. The motion was approved.

Ord also moved that, after reviewing the list, the board could consider additional restrictions on how the approved uses would operate. That motion also passed.

List of uses

• Educational and agricultural workshops for lavender growing classes, beekeeping education, and farm related demonstrations, with up to 40 participants and the frequency of 12 classes per year. Instead, a motion was made to allow up to 30 participants and the frequency of 24 classes per year, which was approved.

• Wreathmaking classes using lavender and other flowers to construct wreaths, with 20 participants and the frequency of 12 classes per year. Instead, a motion was made to allow 20 participants and the frequency of 24 classes per year, which was approved.

• Soap making classes using lavender and oils to make cold processed soaps, with 20 participants and the frequency of 12 classes per year. Instead, a motion was made to allow 20 participants and the frequency of 24 classes per year, which was approved.

• Painting/mixed art classes using the lavender fields and surroundings as artistic inspiration, with 25 participants and the frequency of 18 sessions per year. A motion was made to allow 25 participants and the frequency of 18 sessions per year, which was approved.

• Photography daytime activity for a single professional photography session using the lavender fields, with 10 participants and the frequency of 50 per year. A motion was made to allow 10 participants at the frequency of 50 per year, which was approved.

• Farm-to-table dinners/tasting for seasonal lavender dinners, honey tastings, wine/cheese pairings featuring local producers, with up to 75 participants at the frequency of 4 to 6 events per year. The use was denied.

• Private celebrations — small, for birthdays, showers, reunions, anniversaries, and funeral wakes, with less than 50 participants, up to 52 events per year. The use was denied.

• Private celebrations — indoor, for small weddings, birthdays, showers, reunions, anniversaries, and funeral wakes, with between 50 to 85 participants and the frequency of 24 events per year. The use was denied.

• Private celebrations — outdoor, for weddings, with between 50 to 135 participants, at the frequency of 8 events per year. The use was denied.

• Community and nonprofit events for local fundraisers, chamber of commerce mixers, civic meetings, and holiday markets, with up to 85 participants at the frequency of 4 to 6 events per year. The use was denied.

• Wellness retreats for yoga, meditation, and small group wellness days, with up to 40 participants at the frequency of up to 12 events per year. A motion was made with up to 30 participants per session at the frequency of 24 events per year, which was approved.

• Seasonal farm events — festivals and markets, for lavender bloom, festival, honey harvest weekend, fall or holiday farm days, with up to 200 participants, at the frequency of 2 to 3 events per year. The use was denied.

• Public farm visits, current operation of public farm visits/tours, current operations of public farm visits/tours, currently up to 200 participants during bloom, at the frequency of 90 events per year. A motion was made to allow up to 75 participants at a time, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays from June through September, which was approved.

• Catered field picnics, current operation of private catered field picnics, with up to 10 participants, at the frequency of 12 events per year. The use was denied.

Limitations

• No amplified music or sound inside or out at any event on the farm.

• Acoustic music will be permitted with the exception of drums and brass.

• No alcohol, and no restaurant or catered meals may be served to guests or visitors at the farm. Only such food as is typical for snacks and/or nonalcoholic beverages sold through the farm store.

• If not previously addressed, all activities involving guests must have an agricultural connection to lavender.

• The county tax assessor’s office must be notified of change of use of property.

• Activities should not run simultaneously.

• Ag-tourism activities must take place at least 70 feet from neighboring property line.

• Signs needed to manage traffic control.

• Fireworks, skylanterns, and other hazardous materials are not to be used.

• Applicant is responsible for cleaning all litter within one-quarter mile of the property entrance.