Dorey Park Farmers Market owners propose bed-and-breakfast, wedding venue in Varina

The owners of a Varina farm are seeking Henrico County’s permission to allow weddings, events and a bed-and-breakfast at the site.

In early November, Fleur-de-lis Farms owners John and Cappie Montgomery filed a provisional use permit application with the Henrico Planning Department, seeking approval to host agritourism events on their property. The Montgomerys see the expansion as a way to help sustain their operations.

Driven by a desire to pursue mindful eating and sustainable food production, John Montgomery, a personal injury lawyer at Traylor, Montgomery & Elliott, and his wife, Cappie, a paralegal, purchased their Varina property in 2017 with minimal agricultural experience. Soon, they transformed it into Fleur-de-lis Farms, at which they raise chickens and goats, make milk and cheese and grow a wide range of produce that they sell at their farm store, the Carytown Farmers Market and the Dorey Park Farmers Market, of which they are the founders and Cappie serves as market manager.

The Montgomerys got the idea for applying for a provisional use permit in October, when some of their friends asked to get married on their property. The ceremony was held in the front of the property with the reception held towards the back.

“So many people said that it felt so authentic and genuine,” John Montgomery said. “They were so appreciative of us sharing our farm with them. That’s what we are trying to do: share our farm, share our food, share what we are doing and connect people with where their food comes from.”

Through sharing Fleur-de-lis with others, the Montgomerys also see a way to support their farm operations. This year, they hired a full-time farmer, Sam Markwith, who assists with everything from cultivating crops to hosting holiday wreath-making classes.

Developing another source of revenue from agritourism events will help pay Markwith and ensure the fulfillment of their mission to produce wholesome, ethically sourced food for the community, John Montgomery said.

Under Sec. 24-4325.A of the Henrico County Code, the Montgomerys have applied for the proposed use of a bed and breakfast and wedding and event venue. The provisional use permit under this section of the county code will allow the Montgomerys to receive revenue from events hosted on the property.

In order to meet the standards of the code, the Montgomerys plan to renovate one room in their farmhouse with access to its own bathroom, but their primary goal is to expand agritourism at Fleur-de-lis Farms, John Montgomery said.

Since the Montgomerys will not be changing the agricultural zoning on their property or building any new structures, this is not a rezoning case. The provisional use permit for which they have applied will allow them to make the necessary changes to meet the section’s standards on the existing zoning.

Three years ago, Jocelyn Senn proposed a similar project called The Virginia Inn, a planned bed and breakfast on Osborne Turnpike along the James River, but later withdrew the project following significant opposition from members of the community.

While the Montgomerys are in the preliminary stages of their proposal, they recently sent a letter to neighboring landowners explaining their plans to seek approval from the county to allow them to use Fleur-de-lis Farms for agritourism events. In this letter, they invited neighbors to an open house on December 17 between 2 and 3 pm to see the property and hear the proposed plans.

The Henrico County Planning Commission is scheduled to hear the application Jan. 11 at 7 pm. Once the commission has made a recommendation, the case will advance to the Henrico Board of Supervisors, which holds final decision-making authority.