Westport farmer granted entertainment license for barn dinners with live music

WESTPORT -- A bid by a Sodom Road farmer for an entertainment license for three events sparked debate at Monday’s selectmen meeting on the nature of agritourism and what constitutes farming.

Ryan Wagner, of Weatherlow Farms, on a 3-2 vote was awarded an entertainment license to host two Thursday night dinners, which will feature live acoustic music, and one barn dinner, which will feature live music through a singer and keyboardist.

This seemingly mundane request drew a polarizing debate, much like Wagner’s appearances last year before the Zoning Board of Appeals.

Wagner last year won his appeal through the ZBA, which allowed him to begin hosting weddings and other events at the barn of his 200-acre property. Zoning commissioner Ralph Souza initially denied it. Wagner earlier this year also garnered a beer and malt beverage license through selectmen.

At Monday’s selectmen meeting, some abutters complained that Wagner’s activities do not resemble farming and might be in violation of the Agricultural Preservation Restrictions that are set on the property.

“This is supposed to be a farm, not a venue,” Sodom Road resident Michael Silvia said, adding that agritourism has allowed some business people to circumvent rules in the name of farming.

His neighbor Susan Sherman also said Wagner’s activities could get the “town in hot water with the state” over the potential APR violation.

Wagner refused to offer specifics but said that all his activities on the property, which also include yoga and other public events, are well within APR guidelines.

Still, that wasn’t enough and some officials and residents called for more specifics.

Selectmen Vice Chairman Steven Ouellette asked Wagner if he keeps any animals in his barn.

Wagner asked Ouellette if he has been in his barn, and indicated that much work has happened there.

Ouellette kept asking the same question and Wagner maintained the same reply.

Selectman Brian Valcourt initially recommended denying Wagner’s bid on the grounds that there are two active lawsuits from abutters that claim businesses have gone too far with argi-entertainment proposals.

“We have been sold a bag of goods on this,” Valcourt said of Wagner’s activities.

“I don’t believe you did what was right. You built a barn for animals and machinery, and now you have something else,” Valcourt told Wagner.

“What are you basing your opinion on?” Wagner retorted. “Are you familiar with the definition -- as approved by the Town of Westport -- as it relates to agritourism and agribusiness?"

Resident Jon Alden, whose wife is a realtor in town, accused people of “picking on this gentleman (Wagner) trying to work within the APR.”

Alden said other groups host events with loud music, and loud musical events are held outdoors at the Head of Westport Town Landing, also near residences.

Others, such as Planning Board member Marc De Rego, indicated that some of the produce on Wagner’s farm helps stimulate the local economy.

Selectmen Ann Boxler and Richard Brewer made similar points. They, along with Selectmen Chairwoman Shana Shufelt, voted in favor of Wagner’s entertainment license.

“He has opened up his farm in a small way and has not shown that anything has gone wrong,” Boxler said. “It’s hard to watch a business really struggling to put something together and us saying, ‘Nope, that’s not going to work.’”