Troy Sexton
While I don't doubt that there are specific land use regulations
covering Sauvie Island, the "farm stand" issue is applicable to those
types of business throughout the state. I helped manage a farm in an
area covered by these regulations in Washington County and can assure
you that it's not realistic to "grow more produce" to offset the
revenue generated from non-agricultural activities.
Again, while the situation may be different in Multnomah county and
Sauvie Island, all it took was one complaint to get us in trouble also.
This is a serious situation that affects the livelihood of many farms
just outside the urban growth boundary. The land use laws in this
state do not favor any activity but farming on these lands, and you
can only grow so many dollars worth of produce or christmas trees.
Many look to other activities to supplement farming, but state rules
do not allow much activity.
On Jun 2, 2009, at 1:51 PM, Josh Townsley wrote:
> As a former resident of Sauvie Island (7 years up until a couple
> months ago) I can ensure the group that it is much more complicated
> than what this article proposes. In no way has Kruger's farm been
> singled out, but rather his is one of the last farm stands on the
> island to get the correct permits. The Pumpkin Patch spearheaded the
> effort after the county went after them 3 or 4 years ago. Bella's
> Farm and Columbia Farms have just recently gone through the process.
>
> At stake is a zoning issue with EFU land (exclusive farm use). Many
> years ago, specific provisions were put in on Sauvie Island land in
> order to protect the rural feel of it. This includes provisions on
> how much of your net income can come from non-farming activities.
> I'm not an expert, but I believe this income was set at 80% farming,
> 20% other. Could be 90/10 though.
>
> In Kruger's case, just like the pumpkin patch and others, things
> like Corn Mazes, hay rides, school field trips, weddings, concerts,
> etc., all fall into the "other income" category. This was designed
> to protect the nature of EFU zoning. Of course you can counteract
> this by growing more produce and raising your net income.
>
> There's a lot more to it then the article below, and I assure you
> that one neighbor's complaint to the county did not start this
> process. Really, it's just the county catching up with all the farms
> and making sure everybody plays by the same rules.
>
> I agree it would be a shame to lose the racing out there, but please
> just know that it’s a much more complicated issue than what
> appears below...
>
> Just my two cents...
>
> Josh
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org]
> On Behalf Of Candi Murray
> Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 1:33 PM
> To: obra@list.obra.org
> Subject: [OBRA Chat] Found on Bike Portland
>
> Popular Sauvie Island event site could be in jeopardy
> Posted by Jonathan Maus (Editor) on June 2nd, 2009 at 12:59 pm
>
>
> Kruger’s Farm Market faces
> a permit upgrade that could
> mean no more bike races.
> (Photos (c) J. Maus)In recent years, Kruger’s Farm on Sauvie
> Island has
> hosted many popular cyclocross and mountain bike events. The events
> have
> drawn thousands of Portlanders and their families who take part in
> the fun
> and soak up the welcoming farm atmosphere just a few miles outside
> the city.
>
> But now those events are in jeopardy as Kruger’s Farm faces a
> permitting
> hurdle with Multnomah County’s land use planning department.
> The County is
> making Kruger apply for a new permit (that would allow the events)
> after a
> complaint was filed by one of Kruger’s neighbors. The County
> confirms this
> complaint, saying that it alleges Kruger is guilty of “non-
> permitted
> commercial uses and non-permitted construction of structures.”
>
>
> Story continues below
>
>
> advertisement
>
>
>
>
>
> If the permit is not granted, Kruger would be forced to put a stop
> to not
> only the bike races, but also the popular square dancing events, the
> summer
> concert series, weddings, and other public events held at the farm.
>
> Kruger currently operates the farm on a 1981 “farm
> stand” permit, and he
> admits that things have changed considerably since then. Speaking via
> telephone from his farm this morning, Kruger said the expansion of
> public
> events on his farm have brought “spectacular results”
> and that his
> purchase of the farm in January of 2008 “wouldn’t have
> been fathomable
> without them.”
>
>
> Farm owner Don Kruger.Kruger says he’s worked hard to turn his
> property
> into a successful and viable public farm and that he’s still
> operating
> within the bounds of legal statute. Unfortunately, Kruger says,
> because of
> his neighbor’s complaint, the County is now requiring him to
> get a new
> “Type 2″ farm stand permit that would allow the events
> to continue.
>
> In the meantime, the County has forced him to suspend all public
> events
> (they call it a “voluntary compliance agreement”, but
> Kruger pointed out
> that it wasn’t voluntary at all).
>
> Kruger says he has a great relationship with the County, but
> he’s a bit
> perplexed why they’ve singled him out. (I have yet to hear
> back from the
> County.)
>
> “Unfortunately, one upset neighbor has made it his crusade to
> stop me and
> the way things work sometimes is that just one negative person gets
> a lot of
> play.”
> - Don Kruger, owner of Kruger’s Farm Markets
> Event promoter and owner of Portland Racing, Kris Schamp, says the
> loss of
> Kruger’s Farm as a venue would be a serious blow to the
> community. “Venues
> on private land that are close to Portland are very hard to
> find.” At his
> “Kruger’s Crossing” event last year - one of
> four he put on at Kruger’s
> farm - Schamp drew nearly 700 racers and fans to Sauvie Island.
>
> Schamp says that he was very surprised to hear about the permit issue
> because his events have been, “Extremely smooth and low
> impact.”
>
> At this point, Kruger says a public showing of support (in the form of
> comments left with the County) is vital to him being granted the new
> permit.
> “I believe we have a chance, but it’s very important
> that the public
> weighs in right now,” he said.
>
> If he doesn’t get the expanded permit, Kruger says things
> would get much
> more difficult for his business. He estimates that one-third of his
> net
> income is on the line. Kruger says the loss would mean he
> couldn’t
> “continue to make the farm a public gathering place.”
> “That’s the
> irony,” he added, “I’m doing what people want,
> but the codes sometimes
> just don’t keep up with it.”
>
>
> Racing on Kruger’s property.“Unfortunately, one upset
> neighbor has made it
> his crusade to stop me and the way things work sometimes is that
> just one
> negative person gets a lot of play.”
>
> As for the bike races, Kruger told me he was at first
> “reluctant” to do
> them. “But when I did the first race,” he
> recalled, “I was really stunned
> at the kind of people that came out. They really cared about the
> farm, they
> had families, they were extremely respectful of the land… it
> was
> outstanding and I really thought it was helping our farm.”
>
> I have personally attended several bike events at Kruger’s
> Farm. My family
> and I not only enjoyed the racing, but we also spent money at the
> store and
> stopped at other Sauvie Island businesses and farms while we where
> there. I
> can’t imagine why the County would want to make that scenario
> less likely
> from happening in the future.
>
> To comment on Kruger’s permit, download the application (PDF,
> 700kb) for
> more information and submit your comments to:
>
> Joanna Valencia
> Multnomah County Land Use and Transportation Program
> 1600 SE 190th
> Portland, Oregon 97233
> joanna.valencia@co.multnomah.or.us
> Case # T2-09-22
>
>
> Candi
>
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