Kristina Carmichael 0

Protect Our Right To Farm

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Farming is important to Palm Beach County. According to pbc.gov:

"With an estimated $1.42 billion in agricultural sales for 2010-11, Palm Beach County leads the State of Florida, all counties east of the Mississippi, and it is one of the ten largest in the United States."

So why would we, as a county, consider adding ordinances to the books that will impede our booming agri-business? Sun Sentinel sums it up thusly in a July 21st article:

"Conflicts between those who consider barnyard animals a natural fit and those who don't want to live next to the noise and smells of livestock are becoming more common asPalm Beach County's rural areas give way to a suburban influx.
"It's a matter of degree," said Audrey Norman, director of the county Cooperative Extension Service. "If you have a [neighbor's] rooster crowing at 5 a.m. and your alarm clock goes off at 7 a.m., you would probably get very annoyed.""

Are we really telling livestock owners what's good for them and their animals so that someone who chose to move to a rural area can live free from "annoyance?" I hope not.
Please read, sign and share this petition and join with small farmers as they ask for changes to the coming ordinances - ordinances that have the potential to damage their livelihoods and autonomy. Here's what we're asking for!

In response to new land-use ordinances that will effect Agriculture/Residential homesteads in the AR districts of Palm Beach County, specifically The Acreage and Jupiter Farms (historically agricultural areas), small business and the lives and livelihoods of both residents and their livestock, we ask our Palm Beach County Commissioners to consider the following concerns: 1) Retroactive permitting should be allowed. 2) The possible permitting fees are prohibitive and cumbersome. 3) Crossfencing should not be left up to interpretation of the hierarchy of zoning boards and government. Crossfencing is necessary and beneficial for the animals. 4) Limitations of use should not be placed on homesteaders. Limitations should not exist for the sale of livestock. 5) These new land use codes will, in effect, make smaller parcels unsuitable for small farms. 6) These land use laws will make prohibitive the purchase of land for agricultural use for any would-be homesteaders as regulations and fees almost always have the unintended consequence of keeping new lifeblood out of the marketplace. For the full text of the above mentioned ordinances and our list of concerns please use this link: https://docs.google.com/folder/d/0B-aV3IwCcvNkLXVESTZVY0lKekU/edit. We humbly ask the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners to become familiar with the area, it's residents, the requests of local farmers, and the notion that maintaining a strong agricultural community unencumbered by frivolous regulations is the best possible thing for Palm Beach County's reputation as one friendly to local business and free enterprise, be it agricultural or otherwise. Thank you for your consideration. Feel free to email your County Commissioner about this matter: District 1: Karen Marcus, KMarcus@pbcgov.org District 2: Paulette Burdick, PBurdick@pbcgov.org District 3: Shelley Vana, SVana@pbcgov.org District 4: Steven Abrams, SAbrams@pbcgov.org District 5: Burt Aaronson, BAaronso@pbcgov.org District 6: Jess Santamaria, JSantama@pbcgov.org District 7: Priscilla Taylor, PTaylor@pbcgov.org


Links

For additional information please visit: http://jojosfarmlife.blogspot.com/

Our story in the news: http://blogs.browardpalmbeach.com/cleanplatecharlie/2012/07/acreage_farms_jupiter_farms_rooster.php
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