Will you come to our twp meeting tongiht? Or write a letter?

gabbyraja · #1 02/12/13, 09:40 AM

Begging for support!

Who wants to come to Williamston, MI tonight for a couple of hours to support urban agriculture, Right-to-farm legislation, and a small homestead's right to be?

Williamstown Township is trying to shut down our homestead based on township ordinances. They claim they are in the right, but they are not. Our little farm is fully protected under the Right-to-Farm Act. Even with the Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund on our side the township is still fighting us. They have, however, made the issue an agenda item at their meeting tonight, after a letter from the attorneys. (They had refused to give it their time, previously)

A show of support from the community would do a lot toward making them just decide they need to stop fighting now and compromise with us. If you could spare just a couple of hours of your time tonight, (7-9) to sit in a room and listen to some men and women talk about stuff that mostly doesn't matter to you at all, please come on down!

Williamstown Township Meeting 7:00pm-9:00 pm
990 N. Zimmer Road, Williamston, MI 48895-8180
Park on the south side of the building, where all the other cars will be, and enter through the back door.

Alternately, if you cannot come in person, would you consider sending a letter of support by email or fax to the township today? It must reach them before 4:00 pm when their offices close. You may email Wanda Bloomquist at Bloomquistw@williamstowntownship.com or fax (517) 655-3971

I can't tell you what to say, but maybe something to the effect that you've heard that they are addressing our farm this evening, and you believe that Michigan's Right-to-farm act fully covers our farm. Also that you support small-scale farming, and would love to see more small farms taking back the food supply... Something like that? Please keep it respectful and polite.

Thank you for anything you think you might be able to do.

For more info about what's happened so far, see this thread: Michiganians-More info/advice on Right-to-Farm and other things?

FarmboyBill · #2 02/12/13, 11:23 AM

Well, Gee, I got nothing else better to do then

luvrulz · #3 02/12/13, 11:33 AM

What's your extension office say about all of the headaches these folks are causing? I am too far away to attend, but will be interested ti find out what happens - so sorry you are struggling with all the B$.

Lazy J · #4 02/12/13, 11:36 AM

Since you are claiming protection with the RTF legislation I assume you are following GAAMPS and are a commercial operation for profit.

Good luck tonight with your time with the Township Board, I am sure it will be nerve wracking for you.

Raven12 · #5 02/12/13, 11:41 AM

What did you get caught doing?

gabbyraja · #6 02/12/13, 12:07 PM

lol, I got caught having 3 mini goats, 2 pot belly pigs, and 7 chickens.

Yes to GAAMP, we are actually 2/3 of the way to MAEAP verification, which is the small-scale farm's way to ensure you're GAAMPs compliant. We are waiting for the ground to soften up for a soil sample and then we'll be there. We are selling rabbits, and intend to sell eggs and products made from animal byproducts (like skin-care products, etc), so we are commercial.

FarmerboyBill, are you serious? You might come out? (not sure if you're even in MI...)

Molly Mckee · #7 02/12/13, 12:32 PM

I thought that the Right to Farm Act gave farmers protection from zoning changes and neighbors that objected to farming. Can you buy property that is zoned to prohibit animals on small sizes lots, then claim right to farm?

Raven12 · #8 02/12/13, 01:02 PM

I would be careful what you wish for. If you went around here demanding that your property be changed from Residential to Commercial, then the township might give you what you want...along with slapping you with Commercial zoned property and business taxes/fees/inspections.

I would have bought land that was not zoned or agricultural.

suitcase_sally · #9 02/12/13, 01:20 PM

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I don't think most people would appreciate people that don't live in your township nosing into their affairs.

cshire · #10 02/12/13, 07:56 PM

Wish I would have known about this earlier today. We would have been there.

We currently live in Jackson County but own property in in Ingham County, Bunker Hill Twp.

Good luck and let us know the results.

**Kris in MI** · #11 02/13/13, 12:11 PM

So how did the meeting go? I'm really curious, especially as I was told by a Williamston resident last weekend that she can now have chickens in town. Not just in town as in on the very edges of town, but downtown in town. Within 2 blocks of the traffic light.

(For those who don't know, Williamston only has one traffic light.)

gabbyraja · #12 02/14/13, 10:38 AM

Williamston CITY residents can have ANY farm animal, including cows, horses, ostriches, hogs, etc. We are 3 houses outside the city. Less than a half mile away to the north you can also have any farm animal. Our "high density residential" zone has 6 houses on >70 acres.

I'm not asking for a zoning change. I just want them to leave me to do this, since it is my right to do so.

And I have to ask, WHY would I care at all what they want? Whether they like "outsiders" giving their opinions. They don't care what I want. And this affects everyone in MI, and any other state that has right-to-farm legislation.

Here's the update:
Well, the jerk that called me a liar last time said he thought they should just go ahead and “move forward” against us. Then the supervisor said, “well, maybe we should ask what right to farm is”. So they looked to their ag guy. He said "From the info I have, they have to be in an area zoned agricultural for it to apply." Then they called me up if I had anything to say. I most certainly did.

I told them that was absolutely untrue. You simply had to be commercial in nature, which we are. I also mentioned the Buchler case in the UP, how they were zoned residential and won, and the twp had to pay a large part of their legal fees. They thanked me and I sat down.

Then in the area for public comment at the end I told them I wanted to say one more thing.

I told them that we were one step away from MAEAP verification, I figured in the next couple of weeks. And that, in the Buchler case, the judge sided in their favor, and awarded them most of the $20,000 in legal fees. I asked them to consider one thing. They are obligated to do what's best for the community, and did they think that taking on over $20,000 in the defense’s legal fees was what was best for the community. I thanked them and sat down.

(They had just discussed how with their very tight budget they didn’t have $5,000 to give the senior community center, and thought around $1000 would be better) They decided that it sounded like it was a case of who's right about the legality and they are referring it to their lawyer. They expect to hear back quickly, and will discuss it again at next month's meeting.

It's starting to sound like they might just quit! IF their lawyer isn't a huge idiot who doesn't know the law and that the precedent was just set up north...

There's more info and the story that was on the 11:00 news on our FB page. https://www.facebook.com/sweetpeasfarmandrabbitry

BikerChick · #13 02/14/13, 10:56 AM

Congratulations on taking them on and not backing down. So many elected officials seem to have lots of ego but little actual knowledge of what they're putting into law.

pumpkinlady · #14 02/14/13, 12:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suitcase_sally

Forgive me if I am wrong, but I don't think most people would appreciate people that don't live in your township nosing into their affairs.

Township meetings are open to the public. They are not closed to just township residents.

Fat Charlie · #15 02/14/13, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gabbyraja

It's starting to sound like they might just quit! IF their lawyer isn't a huge idiot who doesn't know the law and that the precedent was just set up north...

OTOH, their lawyer probably bills by the hour. If he can come up with an argument that sounds good, he's got a nice project and gets paid whatever the outcome. Win or lose, he wins if they fight and doesn't lose if his argument has even a shred of legitimacy- I'm sorry, that judge just disagreed with us.

I'm wishing you the best.