November 5, 2014
As Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc. (DPI) members who are residents or businesses in Somerset County, we want to make sure you are aware of a meeting of the county Planning and Zoning Commission on Thursday evening, November 6, 7:00, in the Government Office Building in Princess Anne.
The primary purpose of the meeting is for some residents of the county, and their supporters, who oppose the construction and operation of chicken houses in a rural part of the county near Princess Anne, to express their concerns.
This is not a public hearing. There is no action item on the Planning and Zoning Commission agenda. See the two attached documents for more information.
We wanted to make sure you are aware of this meeting so you can attend if you wish.
Bill Satterfield
Executive Director
Executive Director
Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.
16686 County Seat Highway
Georgetown, Delaware 19947-4881
302-856-9037
It should be noted that this is not about the "Right to Farm" that is included in real estate closings, it is about the effects of these large scale mega farms on the residential areas in close proximity. It's not just about the drop in value of the homes in the area or the excessive noise that emanates from these farms. Environmental impact, large scale water consumption, air and run-off pollution, increased traffic and infrastructure impact from heavy equipment and service vehicles to the roadways are all problems brought by these farms. They are not the couple of chicken houses that Farmer John put up to supplement income, these are usually owned by someone out of the area and staffed by a single tenant or two, so they add no benefit of employment to the county. They provide little tax base added to the county because of incentives and tax reliefs.
ReplyDeleteStandard farming is welcome. We all know the sound of the tractors and combines. Once or twice a year the air may be filled with the aroma of manure being spread on the fields. The fact that a Mega-Farm requires the same permitting as a soybean field, having only set back restrictions to contend with is outrageous. Simply go the Google Maps and look at the Backbone, Palmetto, West Post Office Road areas and see how many chicken houses are already packed into the small area. At last count there were over 50 new model chicken houses in operation within a two mile radius.
At some point the state and the counties have to start some type of regulation and establish a defined maximum development, just as they have done on residential subdivisions and commercial industry.
While I feel your pain 2:50, it is all about The Right to Farm ordinance adopted by Somerset county. RTF is not just something that you sign when purchasing property, it's a law.
ReplyDeleteIf you don't want to be near a farm move to the city.
ReplyDeleteThere is a big difference in a farm and 8 to 10 chicken houses crammed on a 15 acre piece property. This has nothing to do with farming and agriculture. It is a factory, and should be considered commercial.
ReplyDeleteThose things are factories, not real farms.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you 9:07, but unfortunately Big Agribusiness has seen to it that (through the EPA/MDE/USDA) that real true family farms can not manage to exist anymore.
ReplyDeleteDuring this on going process, terms such as farm, farming even words like organic, free range have all been redefined and/or watered down.
Amen 6:41
ReplyDelete