To view or leave comments on this story, click HERE.
(Editor’s Note: At the Oct. 1, 2024 meeting of the Peninsula Township Planning Commission, on the agenda was a request from Lightwell Lavender Farm to amend their Special Use Permit #138. This Amendment #1 would give Lightwell, located on Carroll Road and owned by Erin Hafeli, the option to add an aromatherapy sauna and cold plunge, utilizing lavender and lavender products produced on the farm. View the request beginning on page five of the meeting packet here. The Planning Commission voted to send the Amendment on to the Township Board for review; however, Planning Commissioner Julie Alexander voted no on the request. She explains her vote below. -jb)
I recently took some heat for a vote I made as a member of the Planning Commission. Let me explain…
Old Mission Gazette is Reader Supported.
Click Here to Donate and Keep the Gazette Going.
The vote was whether to approve sending an amendment to Lightwell Lavender Farm’s Special Use Permit to the Peninsula Township Board of Trustees for their approval. First, I commend Erin Hafeli for her clever business idea. Second, I was certain the vote would be approved by the Planning Commission. And third, I believed then, and I believe now that there is an important point to be made. My “no” vote was intended to highlight that point.
That point being that our Zoning Ordinance needs to include a section for agritourism activities that provides 1) new opportunities for farmers, and 2) the necessary structure to ensure that such activities are auxiliary to farming, the growing of products, and not the dominant business.
My vote has been interpreted to mean that I do not support agriculture, and that I will not support farmers and their ability to have auxiliary tourism activities to help support their farms. That is not true. For the record, I help my family manage our two farms, so I’m all in on supporting farmers.
Without a well-defined structure that adheres to the rule of law, we run the risk that auxiliary business activities can morph into the primary activity on the land. This raises the likelihood that land values will be driven beyond what farmers can afford who intend only to grow and sell crops, but it also brings the potential for the kind and level of activity that will cause conflict with residents and other farms. That can become impossible to manage, and in some cases could lead to another lawsuit which the Township doesn’t need.
The idea of an agritourism section of the Peninsula Township Zoning Ordinance has been suggested, but not yet developed. I hope that the new Agricultural Advisory Committee will take up the challenge of laying the groundwork for such a section.
Also Read…
To view or leave comments on this story, click HERE.
A no vote is still a no. Your rationale seems to be that your fears of what the worst might happen in the future
justifies your turning down a minimal opportunity now.
Seems to me that it was a small step which was supported by ample protections against your fears.
In any event you certainly have the right to vote the way you feel. I disagree with your rationale. Erin had a simple request that is ready to go. Many of us were counting on seeing this move quickly forward as a small demonstration project if you will, of PC support and what accessory uses can look like. One should not use the fear of out of control accessory uses dominating the underlying agricultural activity to thwart one that did not fall in that category. Erin should be granted permission by the trustees to move ahead forthwith, as the planning commission recommended.