East Lyme — The Zoning Commission voted 5 to 1 Thursday to revise the town’s regulations to allow certain farms in town to hold dinners and educational events, but it eliminated a provision that would have allowed farms to host weddings.

White Gate Farm, an organic farm on Upper Pattagansett Road under Pauline Lord and her husband, David Harlow, had proposed the regulations, which would allow farms larger than 50 acres within a rural RU-40 to apply for a permit to hold the events.

Zoning Commmission Chairman Matthew Walker stressed that the proposal not only applies to White Gate Farm but also to about 39 properties across town that also meet the criteria.

He said that while he supported farm events, like dinners and educational programs, he was opposed to allowing weddings. He said he was concerned that allowing weddings would permit commercial activities to take place in a residential zone and "opens the door for unintended consequences" in the future.

He also said he was concerned about the noise from amplified music affecting residents not only on Pattagansett Lake but also residents in other neighborhoods situated near farms that could host weddings.

Commission member Norman Peck III asked if the commission would consider allowing weddings with nonamplified music, but commission members said all weddings seem to have amplified music.

George McPherson was the sole commission member who voted against the motion on Thursday. He said he was fine with farms holding weddings.

The regulations approved Thursday allow farms to seek a permit to host Dinners at the Farm, which White Gate Farm has been holding for nine years. They could take place on five consecutive nights once a year and with no more than 200 people. Outdoor amplification of music is prohibited, and nonmusical outdoor amplification must end by 10 p.m.

The farms could also hold up to 20 "farm education events" with a maximum number of 25 people.

Part of the application, which was not approved, allowed farms to seek a permit to hold weddings on either a Saturday or a Sunday before a legal holiday for no more than eight times a year. The weddings would have been capped at 100 people and could only have had outdoor amplification until 10 p.m.

Thursday's decision follows two previous meetings in which residents spoke mostly in favor of allowing farming events and supporting measures to allow farms to continue to be sustainable. But some residents had written letters to the commission to say that they were concerned that the events would create noise and other issues.

Lord has said she is proposing the new regulations — along with new regulations for bed and breakfasts that the commission previously approved — to ensure the farm's sustainability and turn it more into an educational center.

k.drelich@theday.com