Brady Township considers new ordinance to disallow all new commercial agriculture in rural residential areas of two acres or more

5/6/2015

By Wendy Lockwood Banka

Brady Township is holding a special meeting tonight to consider proposed amendments to the Brady Township Ordinance, which would completely outlaw all new commercial agriculture in this "rural residential" area of two acres or more. Details are here.

1 Comment

Joe Smith

5/20/2015 12:27:23 am

Here is the seizure strategy that at least one Township has used should your Township attempt the same. At least two individuals on this Commission ('non-lakeside' minority) have been resolutely opposed:
Talk GAAMPs/zoning changes for over a year and a half.
When it appears that no one will attend the text approval 'recommendation' meeting to be forwarded the Township Board?...pass whatever you'd like.
If anybody shows to 'upset' the plan?
Submit last minute text amendments at the next two meetings. This forces the majority of the people to the first meeting, drastically less to the 2nd (which is again purposely prolonged), even less to the 3rd where the 'next' special meeting is announced...and then hope that nobody shows (again).
Load up the text (loss of future commercial farming right) changes with everything 'but' the strict loss of same by large parcel owners. Portray intent to abandon issues/'gifts' on currently farmed land as benefitting land owners vs those large farmers already farming the parcel next door. Divert the focus of future commercial agriculture rights lost to phantom 'gains' by creating even more regulations surrounding Farm Market/Roadside stand 'rights' for ONLY grandfathered commercial farmers (in ALL districts).
Do not speak of intent to abandon, transfer of ownership, the definition of commercial agriculture or any other issue that the loss of future rights obviously creates.
Send law enforcement to the largest meeting; refuse to comment on their presence there at future meetings.
Claim that not one parcel will be affected, that 'little or no' land is even suitable for future farming and that other Township attorneys throughout the area and state (Michigan Township Association) have concluded that this is al "certainly legal" (while every other attorney, including the Farm Bureau, claims just the opposite).
Refuse to acknowledge the public appearance involving large groups of individuals at the meetings, record their speaking time and approve meeting minutes 'deleting' their commentary (..."we'll try and do better next time..").
Run all meeting minutes through the Township lawyer 'first' and allow the attorney to instruct the recording secretary on same.
More ridiculousness than can be repeated easily (I will attempt to add to this post as their intentional fracturing of community unfolds).

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Brady Township considers new ordinance to disallow all new commercial agriculture in rural residential areas of two acres or more

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