Man Fined for Growing Veggies On His Land

[sunflower-n-ks]

If you want to have a garden know it is legal before you buy the land.

http://www.aolnews.com/2010/09/15/ca...r-home-garden/

[Helena]

Have heard of this before. Worked with a women that actually complained to the city about her neighbor and his herb garden that was on the front lawn of the house. She thought it was ugly and the city told the neighbor she could only grow "things" like that in his back yard. He did sell the herbs at farmer's markets and to others but ...So. you can't do what you want on your own land. Is this new to any of us...????

[Laura Zone 10]

That's why you have to investigate before you buy.
How is the land zoned?
Is there a HOA or a 'covenant' in your neighborhood?
Are you 'in city limits'?
What are the 'building codes'?

It's a lot of upfront home work. But it's WELL worth it in the end.

It is sad some busy body complains about growing herbs, but it is what it is.

[Wanda]

1 1/4 acres grown for sale is not what most people call a garden If he bought the lot specifically for growing produce for sale, he should have checked the zoning.

[tab]

Maybe his neighbor would prefer a local drug dealer sitting around on that property, they seem to avoid all zoning laws.

[laughaha]

This has already been discussed at length...... He successfully got rezoned and the idiots in charge are still fining him for gardening BEFORE they rezoned his land.

[wwubben]

A real good reason not to live in town.I never have and never will under my own free will.

[Laura Zone 10]

Originally Posted by tab

Maybe his neighbor would prefer a local drug dealer sitting around on that property, they seem to avoid all zoning laws.

yeah, had one of those.
cars in cars out.
tour busses parked out front of the house, on the street, all night
cars in cars out
yep, lived next to a burn out roadie, that dealt a little weed on the side. oh, and his live in gf was a pharmicist......

On a 85 x 125 foot lot......it was time to go.

[Beeman]

Originally Posted by laughaha

This has already been discussed at length...... He successfully got rezoned and the idiots in charge are still fining him for gardening BEFORE they rezoned his land.

If I park my car and the meter expires I still get a ticket even if I put money in after I get the ticket.

It sounds so quaint and Little House on the Prairie because he's growing vegetables and it's his passion. I'm betting those vegetables and and his garden require more then a little sunshine and a hoe. It's a business. Instead you need someone like me that has cars everywhere and traffic coming and going along with the noise of all of the work.

[laughaha]

Originally Posted by Beeman

If I park my car and the meter expires I still get a ticket even if I put money in after I get the ticket.

It sounds so quaint and Little House on the Prairie because he's growing vegetables and it's his passion. I'm betting those vegetables and and his garden require more then a little sunshine and a hoe. It's a business. Instead you need someone like me that has cars everywhere and traffic coming and going along with the noise of all of the work.

He specifically bought that property as the prior owners also had a market garden there for many years and he's also been market gardening there for many years. It's not like he's doing anything new with the property. From what I can tell he sells his produce away from his home, so there probably isn't alot of traffic due to him. More than likely someone was complaining about running the tillers/etc which is ridiculous since lawnmowers are incredibly loud too.

[fantasymaker]

LEAST restricted of zoneing meaning you cant build a skyscraper on ag land but you can farm On industrial land.

[Rusty'sDog]

I'll bet that if he had given neighbors bags of tomatoes & veggies once in awhile he would never have heard from the city/county. If you are going to "push the limits" make certain that your neighbors like you.

I know a family that received a few complaints about their chickens. Giving away a couple dozen eggs per week stopped all of the complaints.

[furholler]

Personally, I think it stinks that we even have to talk about this in this country.

[RJMAcres]

Fined for growing veggies on your own land ?
This is 1 of the top 10 most assinine things I've heard of.

[Beeman]

Originally Posted by laughaha

He specifically bought that property as the prior owners also had a market garden there for many years and he's also been market gardening there for many years. It's not like he's doing anything new with the property. From what I can tell he sells his produce away from his home, so there probably isn't alot of traffic due to him. More than likely someone was complaining about running the tillers/etc which is ridiculous since lawnmowers are incredibly loud too.

I guess the previous owners were in violation of the zoning laws also, they just didn't get caught but he did. He was obviously in violation as he had to get the property rezoned. The next people he will probably get a visit from is the IRS.

[chamoisee]

Simply avoiding living in town is not enough. This kind of nonsense needs to be actively challenged and fought against at every turn.

[mekasmom]

I pray he eventually wins this case at a higher court and the city has to pay restitution and damages. Seriously. This is a case of persecution by government because of a whiny neighbor. I wouldn't want to be in their shoes when they face God and explain that they harassed someone for growing food.

[ronbre]

well that law did pass that prevents people from doing what they want on their land..but Michigan pre empted it with the law they passed that said you could grow and sell up to so much $ worth of stuff on your property..and so we are safe here in Michigan..unless you are in a community that has RULES..we aren't

[haypoint]

This case wasn't about a guy growing vegetables in his yard. He had a commercial operation. He even had several full time employees. This was a commercial operation in an area zoned residential. If the zoning administrator would have overlooked this because it didn't bother anyone, even though it violated the zoning ordinance, then that sets a presidence for any other future violations. If they would have allowed it, then they would have a harder time preventing an adult book store, strip club or Monsanto office building.

What stinks or is assinine is that people leap to judgement of a lenghty situation that has little to do with vegetables, but a lot to do with a commercial operation.

The article says he has 1 1/4 acre in production , PLUS he has enough fallow land to employ several men, hired to weed.

If he wasn't paying his taxes for his employees and the rest of his commercial business, perhaps IRS should visit him.

The only law I know of for Michigan is the new one that allows you to sell stuff you cooked or baked in an uninspected kitchen, up to a specific dollar amount.

If you want to do what ever you want with your property, find a place that has no zoning. But don't waffle on your zoning beliefs when a condo is built blocking your view, or a tire recycling plant moves next door or the town 20 miles away sinks a 400 foot water well 8 feet off your property line, pumping that water back to their town.

The OP is right, check before you buy.

[texican]

There are reasons we have cities... this is where all the folks live, that can't stand it out in the country... where I can do whatever I want on my land, if the neighbors don't like it, tough taters. I'm glad cities exist, so all the neat freaks, and people that long to be close enough to smell whats cooking in the neighbors kitchen, can live in peace and harmony, and leave us country folks alone.

Don't like rules and regs... I'd avoid cities.

Of course, it's double edged sword... move out to the sticks, and someone might plop down a hog or chicken operation right on your boundary. I'll take chicken houses over crack houses any day.