Descrizione
Maitland Mountain Farm is a pickle business, not a farm. They cannot be classified as a farm because they don’t have the required acreage and they don’t grow the cucumbers themselves. They buy cucumbers from their suppliers and make them into pickles. Their pickles don’t meet FDA and USDA requirements because their handling and packaging is unapproved. They want to build a packaging plant to meet these requirements on the property right next to their neighbors. The land was cleared, but the city denied their request. To get around city approval, the Maitlands are trying to change Salem’s zoning ordinance to be recognized as a “farm” of their small size. This would give them the protection of the Right to Farm By-Law that would override all city controls and neighbor complaints to allow them do what they please without interference. Neighbors have been already subjected to excessive truck traffic, noise, tree clearing of buffer zones, rotting vegetation smells, rat infestations, coyotes, dump eyesores, and it will get worse when they expand their pickle making operations. Would you want to live next to this? Our quality of life and property values will be greatly affected if this change is allowed. Neighbors need to be united in their efforts to stop this because everyone’s future will be adversely affected as the “farm” grows and expands operations. It’s not fair that one family is able to ride roughshod over their neighbors, and obtain more protections than their neighbors have.
15 Commentos
CB (Utente registrato)
And, the zoning will allow for a 'farm' to be 2 acres. One family is not riding roughshod over all fo you.
john (Utente registrato)
Chiusa Mayor's Office (Ufficialità verificata)
Mark (Utente registrato)
1. Maitland Mountain Farm is both a farm and a pickle business. The pickle business operates off-site and meets all requirements necessary for their sale. There is no plan to move the pickle business to the farm. The agricultural side of the farm grows and provides for sale at farmer markets and to local restaurants and suppliers (not limited to): a variety micro greens, tomatoes, cucumber, garlic, garlic scapes, cabbage, peppers, a large variety of cut flowers among other things as well as forest products and we offer a variety of rotating seasonal specialties as they come into their own harvest time.
2. Maitland Mountain Farm is a Farm by state definition ch40a sec 3. The city denied a building permit on the grounds that the farm is not primary use agriculture and that is what MMF is currently contesting. Currently the farming activities is the primary revenue produced at the property. All inhabitants of the residence help on the farm one way or another, it is in fact a family farm after all. The timber framed packaging house is the building in question and is necessary for the proper washing and packaging of the products grown on site for the farm to continue to prosper.
3. We petitioned the city to change the zoning ordinance from a minimum of 5 acres to be deemed a farm, to 2. If you read and understand ch40a sec 3 you will see that in the states eyes MMF is indeed a farm. We are seeking to get Salem closer aligned to the state guidelines and get everyone educated on WHY the farm by right laws are instituted in the first place. The ordinance change would be seen as Salem being a place that values small farms. The proposed change to the city ordnance would not change anything for MMF. In a nut shell - Farm by right laws were created because as farms were sold and subdivided into housing (creating a much higher density, and more traffic) the "new" neighbors complained about the existing farms to the point where the neighbors put them out of business. Many small farms have been lost in this way and that is why there are farm by right laws and protections.
4. There are no "buffer zones". There are property lines and setbacks. The trees in question in the comment "trees cut down in buffer zones" were not on MMF property when cut. The abutting land owners to the west sold their property to Bridgewell who promptly cut all the trees down on their property, built their adult day care center and then sold MMF the remainder of the clear cut land, which MMF then put a green house onto. In fact the MMF land owner planted about 8 trees 10 feet back from one of our property lines and the neighbor later paved right up to the trees and we are still in discussions with them about what to do...
Thank you for reading this. We (Maitland Mountain Farm) want to hear your side of the story just as much as we want our side to be heard. I am happy to answer any questions that come forth, we want to hear your input and we really do want to appease everyone in reasonable, possible ways. Thank you
Mark Maitland
Reopened Mark (Utente registrato)
CB (Utente registrato)
And, 2 acres is considered a 'farm'. Look up the correct information.
What has happened to the community of Salem? We are a sanctuary city, but cannot support our own residents?!
john (Utente registrato)
Chiusa Mayor's Office (Ufficialità verificata)
john (Utente registrato)
Reopened CB (Utente registrato)
CB (Utente registrato)
Chiusa Mayor's Office (Ufficialità verificata)
Reopened Mark (Utente registrato)
Riconosciuto Mayor's Office (Ufficialità verificata)
Chiusa Mayor's Office (Ufficialità verificata)