Sharpsburg Mayor Threatens to Sue Local Farms for Hosting Agritourism Events

Sharpsburg, MD – Concerns over commercial activities at Green Hill Farm, a local farm featuring events and a wedding venue located outside of Sharpsburg town limits, were brought to the forefront by the Mayor Russ Weaver during a joint meeting with Washington County Commissioners on September 23rd. While the farm is not within Sharpsburg’s town limits and therefore beyond its direct jurisdiction, the mayor articulated significant unease regarding what he believes are potential violations of the an environmental easement’s preservation goals, and even threatened that the town might sue the farm. At the September 29th Mayor and Council meeting, the Mayor stated that he misspoke when making that statement.

As of 10/1/2025, updated coverage is now available, including a statement from Mayor Weaver and more information regarding Maryland Environmental Trust.

This article was updated 9/30/2025 to include information from the 9/29/2025 Mayor and Council meeting.

This article was updated 9/26/2025 10:40 pm to include a link explaining the MET easement program, as well as further clarify previous business dealings with Green Hill Farm.

The core of the dispute centers on the nature of events and structures at Green Hill Farm, which the mayor contends are inconsistent with the easement’s intent. Specifically, the mayor highlighted concerns about “happy hour” events that feature food trucks, alcohol sales, live music, and dancing. According to the mayor, the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) easement in place on the farm permits commercial activities only if they are directly related to farming, forestry, or horticulture, and specifically restricts sales to products produced on the property itself. He expressed that the current events appear to exceed these boundaries.

“What is agricultural about happy hour, food trucks, alcoholic beverages, dancing, music, and what have you?” asked Weaver during the meeting.

Further exacerbating these concerns is the construction of cabins on the property. Weaver pointed to a clause in the easement that he interprets as limiting residential structures, including “seasonal cabins,” to a single unit. He noted that the property owner reportedly received approval from a state-level committee for multiple cabins, an action he described as a direct contravention of the easement’s explicit limitations. This perceived violation, he argued, undermines the decades of effort by local individuals and organizations dedicated to preserving the historical character of the Antietam battlefield area.

Weaver stated during the meeting “We believe that, we were kind of chosen by you know history and destiny to be stewards and to keep watch on the battlefield. And that’s exactly what we do.”

Adding to the town’s frustration are issues related to the process through which these approvals may have been obtained. Sharpsburg representatives stated they were not informed of a hearing concerning the property, expressing disappointment with what they described as a lack of transparency and community input in the decision-making. The mayor suggested that significant changes were made based on lobbying efforts, without adequate consideration for the historical context and community impact.

“It’s not acceptable that some elected bureaucrat sitting somewhere down the road can be lobbied by an individual in our county and make a drastic change like this,” stated Weaver.

In response, county officials clarified the county’s role and its limitations in this matter. They confirmed that Green Hill Farm is compliant with county zoning regulations, holding a special exception permit for a “banquet reception facility” that was approved by the board of zoning appeals. Recent changes in state law concerning agritourism and portable sanitation facilities have, according to the county, broadened the scope of events permissible at such venues.

Crucially, the county explained that it lacks the legal authority to enforce the MET easement, which is a private agreement between the property owner and the Maryland Environmental Trust. The county’s responsibility is to monitor easements and report new development plans to MET. The county did notify MET of the farm’s proposed plans, and MET reportedly did not identify a violation. Furthermore, a recent inspection of the property by MET found no issues. The county also noted that a prior “cease and desist” order related to the cabins, due to zoning restrictions against campgrounds, was rescinded after the property owner ceased advertising and renting them. The meeting did not indicate who filed the complaint which resulted in the order, but we have been informed by the owner of Green Hill Farm, Erin Moshier, that she believes the order was filed in response to a complaint from the Town of Sharpsburg.

The county advised the town that its primary avenue for addressing the situation is through direct engagement with the Maryland Environmental Trust. The mayor indicated that legal action remains a possibility, though he acknowledged the significant financial implications for the town.

“I was just told on the phone on the way in here because I just been working this really recently is that our only recourse is to sue,” said Weaver at the meeting. “That’s that’s what I’ve been told and I I hate to go that route. We’re not rich. We’re not deep pockets. But if we have to, I guess we’ll have to because this is this is such a blatant violation of an easement.”

This year, House Bill 749 was enacted by the State of Maryland, with an effective date of June 1, 2025, which aimed to streamline regulations for agricultural buildings used for agritourism in Washington County. The core of the new law exempts existing agricultural buildings that are utilized for agritourism from certain stringent building performance standards. This exemption applies when agritourism is considered a subordinate use to the primary agricultural function of the building. Specifically, the legislation clarifies that the conversion of an existing agricultural building for agritourism purposes will not automatically be considered a change in occupancy that necessitates a building permit, provided certain conditions are met. These conditions include compliance with regulations set by the Department, the agritourism use being confined to ground-level exit floors, and occupancy limits not exceeding 50 people in a building.

However, for Washington County, and a specific list of other counties, an expanded provision allows for a higher occupancy limit. In these designated counties, an existing agricultural building used for agritourism will not be considered a change of occupancy requiring a permit if the agritourism activity accommodates up to 200 people simultaneously, and the building’s means of egress meet International Building Code standards for non-sprinklered buildings. This distinction provides additional flexibility for agritourism operations in these counties that may host larger events or attract more visitors.

Green Hill Farm was a major proponent of the bill. “Deregulating farm outbuildings will enable farmers to adapt as agriculture evolves,” said Moshier while the bill was still under consideration. “Retired poultry houses can serve as a goat yoga studio, an old milk shed can now be a farm store or, for me personally… My historic carriage house can operate as a floral studio. The expense of permits and commercial code requirements greatly hinder or even totally squash our options.”

Supporters of the bill pointed to national trends showing agritourism as a growing sector. According to USDA data, agritourism activities increased by nearly 42% from 2012 to 2017, demonstrating its viability as a sustainable form of tourism. The bill was approved by Governor Wes Moore on March 13, 2025.

The events at Green Hill Farm would fall under the “recreation” classification of agritourism, defined by Maryland law in 2018.

“AGRITOURISM” MEANS AN ACTIVITY CONDUCTED ON A FARM THAT IS OFFERED TO A MEMBER OF THE GENERAL PUBLIC OR TO INVITED GUESTS FOR THE PURPOSE OF EDUCATION, RECREATION, OR ACTIVE INVOLVEMENT IN THE FARM OPERATION.

Maryland HB252, Approved by the Governor, May 15, 2018. 4-211.

So Green Hill Farm appears to be compliant with Maryland law on agritourism, but is it compliant with its easement? On March 19, 2025, a few days after HB749 was approved by Governor Moore, the Maryland Environmental Trust (MET) granted conditional approval for Green Hill Farm to continue hosting temporary commercial events. The approval is contingent upon the farm’s strict adherence to several conditions designed to protect the property’s conservation attributes. The farm is prohibited from constructing any permanent structures, commercial signage, or lighting specifically for these events. All activities must have a minimal impact on the land and be confined to existing developed areas, affecting no more than 15 acres. Furthermore, the farm is responsible for all required permits, crowd control, and must allow MET staff to conduct inspections. The landowner is obligated to mitigate any negative impacts resulting from the events.

“Agriculture is evolving. While large farms use expensive machinery to efficiently feed the masses, small farms like mine focus on niche products. Cut flowers, organic veggies and heritage livestock can be sold directly to the consumer,” said Moshier in a statement to Radio Free Hub City. “By involving the community with workshops, events, and farm stays, we attract repeat customers who participate and spread the word creating a wider network and a farm which can sustain itself. This new era of farming is actually pretty traditional. It brings the community together and offers a personal approach lost with efficiency.”

At the September 29, 2025 Town Council work session meeting in Sharpsburg Mayor Weaver clarified that at no point has the town intended to sue Green Hill Farm. Updated coverage is now available, including a statement from Mayor Weaver and more information regarding Maryland Environmental Trust.

Article by Ken Buckler, based upon information from the joint meeting between Washington County Commissioners and the Town of Sharpsburg. RFHC has submitted a Public Information Act request to obtain copies of complaints which the Town of Sharpsburg referenced during the county meeting.

DISCLAIMER: Ken also owns Honeypot Acres Farm, which may potentially benefit from the recently enacted legislation, and has previously participated at Green Hill Farm events. Specifically, Honeypot Acres Farm exhibited at the Green Hill Farm Poultry Swap in early 2024.

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