SEYMOUR, Conn. (WTNH) — Red Clover Farms and many community members in Seymour have fought back against a cease-and-desist order, which prohibited certain activities on the farm.
The Zoning Board of Appeals voted unanimously Thursday to uphold the cease and desist order, although some modifications were made.
However, the owner of Red Clover Farms said she does not know where she goes from here.
Weddings, vendor markets, and musical performances are all examples of activities that previously happened at Red Clover Farms but are now barred.
“I just think it’s a really sad thing, I think that, to strip something like this away from the community,” Red Clover Farms owner Kim Warner said.
The Zoning Board of Appeals decided Thursday night that those activities do not fall under the guidelines of a farm stand and that Red Clover Farms had prior opportunities to get the proper permits, before a neighbor’s complaints kickstarted the investigation.
But the board did modify the cease and desist order to allow agricultural-related activities and educational programs.
“We need to do the best we can to not focus on emotions,” board member Paul Wetowitz said.
“I know other farmers that don’t live in Seymour, who would love to have events at their farm in order to make money, but they’re not allowed either,” Anthony DeFelice, another board member, said.
Thursday was the second time that members of the Seymour community came out in numbers to support Red Clover Farms.
“Cease and desist order issued to Red Clover Farms stops responsible land use, and growth,” a community member said at the June meeting.
The order allows Red Clover Farms to continue all operations with town approval for 90 days. The town says that approval has already been granted.
The town did say that the Planning and Zoning Board is considering amending the town’s text to add a “right to farm” regulation, which would allow for more activities on farms.
If those changes are made, it would counteract the cease-and-desist order. But for now, Warner said their future is uncertain.
“I just don’t realistically see sitting there selling a potato all day or waiting around 12 hours for somebody to drive up and buy, you know, a head of lettuce, very feasible just for my location,” she said.
The final caveat is that Warner has 15 days to appeal the decision to Superior Court, but she says that is an expensive decision and does not know if she will take that path.