Zoning Change Passed!I have been informed
that the Baltimore County Council approved on May 21st the zoning
change to allow on-farm creameries in RC2 zones. More details to
follow.
Zoning Change Legislation. Read Bill 34-09.
The County Council of Baltimore County, Maryland has
introduced a bill on April 20, 2009.
This bill clarifies the existing zoning for farmers being able to sell
the products they grow and process on their farm. The word dairying is already in the zoning,
however, some have had difficulty understanding that dairying would include
producing and processing your milk on the farm into products such as cheese,
ice cream etc. This bill permits the
farmstead creameries as a right. A farmstead creamery is defined as “an
establishment where dairy products such as milk, butter, cheese, ice cream, and
yogurt are made, processed or prepared.”
The bill also states” The majority of the dairy products produced by the
farmstead creamery must be from milk produced on the premises, on adjacent land , or on properties farmed by
the same agricuItural producer.” The bill also places limitations to make sure
the buildings are not too big, and too much milk is not being processed.
As the council will be voting on this issue shortly, we are
asking all that are supportive of allowing dairy farmers to process their milk
on the farm to let the council members know that you are supportive. Even if you do not live in Baltimore county
your voice needs to be herd. Every email
counts.
Please email the council members at council1@baltimorecountymd.gov,
council2@baltimorecountymd.gov
, council3@baltimorecountymd.gov
, council4@baltimorecountymd.gov
, council5@baltimorecountymd.gov
, council6@baltimorecountymd.gov
, council7@baltimorecountymd.gov
, jimsmith@baltimorecountymd.gov.com
Let them know what county you live in, and even if you don’t
live in Baltimore County, let them know you support the industry of
agriculture, you want to buy fresh local products from the farmer. You want the direct connection to the
farmer. Your tax dollars pay to put farmland into
preservation and you want to be able to purchase from those farmers locally on
the farm cutting out the middle man.
You support the bill No. 34-09 without placing any
additional restrictions on the farmer.
Also, if you would like, making mention that if the
Baltimore County Department of Economic Development could release the funding
for the low interest loans for the Prigel farm it would be much
appreciated. That would make it possible
for them to move forward with the project while the appeals continue.