Visser Farms briefly operated a farm stand at 461 Chicago Drive just outside the city limits last spring. In May, the township sent a cease-and-desist letter to the farm, saying it was in violation of zoning rules.
Since then, the commission has been working on potential solutions. But misinformation on the subject is leading to frustration on both sides.
Here is the corrected record:
FALSE: The planning commission denied a special-use request for Visser Farms’ stand
The planning commission hasn t denied a direct request to allow the farm stand on Chicago Drive. It s never been on the agenda.
In August 2020, attorney William Sikkel on behalf of Visser Farms proposed the amendment to township ordinance. The commission suggested the farm appeal to the township board directly for temporary authorization to operate its farm stand, rather than changing township ordinance for a single property.
It s painful: Zeeland family farm in dispute with township over closed farm stand wzzm13.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wzzm13.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
HOLLAND TWP. After a lengthy discussion during its regular meeting Tuesday, April 13, the Holland Township Planning Commission agreed to explore an overlay district for farm stands.
The decision comes months after a request to amend an existing township ordinance to allow farm stands to operate in commercial districts zoned C-2 was brought before the commission by attorney William Sikkel on behalf of Visser Farms, which briefly operated a farm stand at 461 Chicago Drive last spring.
In May 2020, the township sent a cease-and-desist letter to the farm, saying it was in violation of zoning rules, which only allows farm stands to operate in agricultural zones.
Local farm stand fighting to reopen
VISSER FARM STAND
and last updated 2021-04-14 09:30:04-04
HOLLAND, Mich. â A West Michigan family farm continues to try and get a permit to reopen a popular farm stand after it was shut down by county officials.
Casey Visser with Visser Farms says he opened a fresh produce stand on Chicago Drive in Holland Township during the start of the pandemic to sell 300 different varieties of crops and produce to local families in need.
When the Visser family asked for a zoning ordinance text amendment to allow for a special-use farm stand, they never expected resistance from the Holland Township planning commission. The farm stand was given a cease and desist back in May of last year because the location of the farm stand is in a commercial district and not within an agricultural-zoned property. Casey says this issue has been tabled by township leaders since August of last year.
Grand Rapids Business Journal
Courtesy Holland Farmers Market
Holland Farmers Market’s annual Winter Market begins Saturday at the Eighth Street Market Place.
From 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the first and third Saturday from January through April, the Winter Market will be held outdoors to adhere to social distancing guidelines. Masks will be required.
“The outdoor Winter Market is an extension of the Holland Farmers Market’s mission to provide fresh, healthy and locally grown food to the community year-round, while at the same time supporting our regional economy and the livelihoods of our farmers and vendors,” said Kara de Alvare, Holland Farmers Market marketing coordinator. “We invite everyone to bundle up, mask up and join us the first and third Saturdays of the month all winter long.”