Debut of weekly event is scheduled for March 16 on medians 2 of 3 on Avenue of Flags
Those in Buellton desiring to have a weekly farmers market in town are about to have their wish come true.
In its regular Thursday, Feb. 26, meeting, the Buellton City Council approved a license agreement that gives the green light to a weekly farmers market to be held every Monday from 2 to 6 p.m. on medians 2 and 3 on Avenue of Flags, the same general area as the annual Fall Fest. However, the only traffic modification would be the closing of the cross street between the two medians during the farmers market; Avenue of Flags would remain open to traffic.
The City Council voted unanimously to grant the license after the market organizers were granted a Conditional Use Permit by the Buellton Planning Commission during its Jan. 5 meeting.
Planning director Andrea Keefer said the license fee to the city would be just $1, recognizing that Browning and her family would bear most of the expenses and do the planning and vendor management for the market. The city had long desired a farmers market on Avenue of Flags, but recognized that staffing and logistical challenges did not make it feasible for the city staff to operate the event themselves.
Brenda Browning, whose family operates several farmers markets across Southern California, including one in Los Alamos, is going to operate the Buellton market and already has plans set for the inaugural one.
“We’re at maximum capacity [for vendors] and I have the local band Out of the Blue ready to play the first day,” said Browning, who was at the meeting to make her presentation and take questions from council. ““We’ve had overwhelming positive feedback.”
Plans for the market are to operate from 2 to 6 p.m. every Monday, with the option of extending to 7 p.m. in the summer months.
During council questions, Councilmember Hudson Hornick addresses the noise issue if live bands were performing, as will be the case March 16.
“Would it be as loud as Fall Fest,” he asked. Keefer answered that legally it could be, although it probably wouldn’t reach that level. She also said the noise would be regulated by the Planning Commission’s CUP.
Councilmember John Sanchez asked if local youth and civic groups would be able to do activities there, citing Girl Scouts coming to sell cookies or the Santa Ynez Valley Community Aquatics Foundation having a booth as examples. Browning assured that wouldn’t be a problem as long as they informed organizers ahead of time.
Vice Mayor Carla Mead asked about people bringing dogs into the market, to which Browning replied that dogs were not allowed due to county regulations. However, Browning added that signage would be added and very conspicuous during the market to make any pet owners aware of the policy.
Mayor David Silva asked about the parking issues, with nearby businesses possibly having concerns about the median parking lot filling up during business hours. Keefer told Silva she felt there were enough parking spaces to accommodate the market customers and it wouldn’t be a problem.
When Silva said organizers should still consider consulting with nearby businesses to clear up any concerns, Browning said she has talked to local businesses like Olivera’s Garage and the 76 gas station, with Olivera’s even offering its bathroom and water station for use during market hours.
Sanchez asked about keeping the vendor list full, and Browning answered that there always tended to be a dropoff after a market’s been operating for a little while, but others fill the space, and she would be handling that so the city didn’t have to.
After that discussion, Elysia moved to approve the license with Sanchez seconding and the motion passes 5-0.
The City Council will meet next on Thursday, March 12, at 6 p.m.
