A-1 is the Agricultural-Forestry District. Most of the land in Jefferson County is zoned A-1.
The Resolutions say: “To achieve the intent of this district, the following uses are permitted.” There is no specific definition, and I would certainly challenge any of you reading this to come up with a definition that is not dripping with sarcasm.
One would think (based on its name) that allowed uses would be related to agriculture or forestry. I don’t see any that I would categorize as “forestry.” You can make up your own mind. My reactions are in the [brackets].
Here is a list of uses in A-1 that are allowed ONLY in A-1:
- Agricultural and similar activities including: crop farming, livestock, poultry, horticulture, aquaculture, processing and/or sales of agricultural products raised, grown, or cultivated on the premises [Zoning Lady note: Good start!!]
- Mobile homes on individual lots
- Salt caves [sort of a sauna that uses salt instead of rocks and hot water]
- Other uses including: cadaver research [“Body Farm”?], travel trailer parks
- Conditional uses including: Skeet shooting, off-road vehicle facilities, outdoor festival/concert, airpark/airstrip
If your neighbor’s property is zoned A-1, are you wondering what could be coming there? But wait, there’s more. . .
These are uses that are allowed in A-1 and at least one other zone:
- Residential including: Single family dwellings, duplexes
- Convenience commercial including: gas station, convenience market, video rental, restaurant, drug stores, grocery stores, lounge/bar, florist, coin operated laundries
- Personal service including: barber, beauty shop, pedicure/manicure, massage therapist, tanning salon
- Repair shops including: watches, jewelry, clocks, shoes, guns, appliances, small engines
- Semi-public uses including: churches, cemeteries, lodges, clubs
- Public uses including: Post Offices, libraries, schools, buildings/facilities for emergency/non-emergency uses
- Indoor recreation including: video game arcades, billiards/pool rooms
- Outdoor recreation including: golf courses, driving ranges, parks, playgrounds, athletic fields
- Micro/farm distilleries, micro breweries, micro wineries
- Other uses including: marinas, veterinarian offices, flea markets, bed and breakfast inns
- Conditional uses including: indoor and outdoor firing ranges, kennels
- Solar and wind energy systems
- Custom slaughterhouses
- Accessory buildings
There was an ad online for some A-1 land in Jefferson County. It touted the A-1 zone as “Jefferson County’s most liberal zone” followed by a list of some of the uses allowed in A-1. That is an appropriate description. It is also the reason that most of the issues arising at BZA and Planning meetings involve A-1 zoned property.