Don Kruger, owner of Kruger's Farm
Stand on Sauvie Island.
(Photos © J. Maus)

Farmer Don Kruger, owner of Kruger's Farm Market on Sauvie Island, says he's "hanging tough" after the recent Multnomah County decision on his farm stand permit.

During a standard permit update process that was triggered by a complaint from one of Kruger's neighbors, the County ruled that Kruger is no longer allowed to host several of the activities that have made his farm a popular destination for many in the Portland region.

In their decision, the County ruled that the only fee-based activities that can happen at the farm are weekly "harvest festivals" and the corn maze. As for bike races, the County wrote that, "The bike races are inconsistent with the code criteria and are not an activity that promotes the sale of farm crops." (more...)

Multnomah County's land use planning department has reached a decision in the permit application for Kruger's Farm. As we reported back in June, the farm stand has hosted numerous popular bike races in the past but those events were in jeopardy after the County received a complaint that triggered an update to Kruger's land use permit.

A decision made public today by Multnomah County Planning Director Karen Schilling, states that, "Weddings, bike races, birthday parties, corporate picnics, and group gatherings are not allowed as part of this decision."

Kruger's Farm Market sits on an Exclusive Farm Use zone and farm owner Don Kruger has added many activities to the land that are not agricultural in nature. One of those uses that came under scrutiny by the county were bike races. (more...)