news
 Rob French will be allowed to keep his produce stand open as the county reviews its current ordinances. His children, Thomas (left), Billy and Sarah-Jane help out at the stand. (Photo by Roslyn Ryan) County vegetable stand can stay, for now By Richard Carrier Jun 25, 2008 Rob French may have become the Last Man Standing in the vendor wars along Powhatan County’s Route 60 corridor. The Cumberland County farmer and entrepreneur has also become something of a cult hero in the process. The conflict between the county and the vegetable stand that French set up next to the Bank of Powhatan began last year, and French’s operation wasn’t the only one caught up in the fray. “We reacted to several complaints,” said Powhatan Planning Director Brandon Stidham. Those complaints came from residents concerned about the traffic situations caused by some roadside stands’ proximity to Route 60. The county’s investigation found that, in most cases, the sites did not comply with county ordinances in effect at the time. Most did not have adequate parking or provide acceptable entry and egress. French was advised that he was in violation of several ordinances, including those that stipulate a stand such as his must have a commercial entrance and handicapped parking if it was not going to be packed up and removed every night. There were other problems as well, said French, including the fact that he was not attached to any other business. According to Stidham, county leaders recently realized that the unprecedented influx of roadside vendors required a fresh look at applicable ordinances. French’s dilemma exemplifies the difficulty of managing growth while being sensitive to the community’s desire to remain rural. The 100-year-old Sunnyside Farm, located on Route 13 just four miles into Cumberland County, operates three other produce stands in the area. “It was never our intention to shut them down,” Stidham said, “but [instead] to move them to shopping centers and other areas that have acceptable ingress, egress and parking.” The county’s decision was to pursue new ordinances for what was, at the time, “eight or nine vendors including snow cones, vegetables, hot dogs, roses, seafood and barbecue,” Stidham said. “We had to address the safety issues…but if they packed up and left every night they wouldn’t have to meet site plan requirements.” As in all things governmental, there was a process in place. A study group, which is open to the public, was formed to examine the problem. Last year’s complaints were scheduled to be addressed in the spring of this year by the study group and a public hearing was advertised for June 3. By the date of the hearing, Rob French found himself in a rather lonely situation. Looking up and down Route 60, his vegetable stand was the only vendor. No hot dogs, snow cones, seafood or barbecue, in violation of county codes or not, could be purchased from a vendor in the county. They had all disappeared. French’s misunderstanding of the county’s obligation to notify him of the public hearing led to his emergence as a cause célèbre. “I was never notified about the date of the hearing and didn’t find out about it until a day and a half before it was held,” he recalled. “I wasn’t able to prepare for it.” Realizing that he would be under the gun at the hearing, French launched a phone campaign. “We managed to generate more phone calls (to the county) than any other incident in the county,” French said. Stidham agreed that there had been considerable phone traffic on French’s behalf in the 24 hours preceding the public hearing, but said that French’s complaint of not being personally notified of the public hearing was invalid. “The county is absolutely not obligated to notify individuals of public hearings. The public notice posted in the newspaper fulfills our obligations.” Powhatan Life, a website hosted by Powhatan’s Cathy Dickson, was inundated by residents calling for the county to leave French alone. The June 3 hearing, during which French presented a petition signed by his customers neither generated any modifications of current ordinances nor created any new ones. The Planning Commission decided that an additional study group was needed. “We had planned to be back working on June 11,” Stidham said, but the new study group is now scheduled to meet on July 16. French’s Route 60 location continues to operate, pending a resolution by the Powhatan Planning Commission. (15) Comments • Email This Article |
| Reader Comments |
|
by Shelley Higgins of Powhatan, VA Jul. 16, 2008, 09:41 PM I think a Farmer’s Market is a BRILLIANT idea and I think it should be taken into consideration. I also think the Flat Rock area that was mentioned would be perfect. :)
by Emmett Jul. 10, 2008, 09:39 PM I’d like a list of the other Powhatan businesses that complained about the fruit stand so we can boycott them. They have gone too far in my book. He’s just trying to make a living.
by David Amos of Powhatan. Jul. 7, 2008, 02:34 PM Our family buys produce from Mr.French on a regular basis. The county’s (and those opposed) stance on a man making an honest livelyhood for himself and his family strikes me as positively absurd! There is ample parking both at his stand and at the nearby bank ( a miniscule walk away). There is also plenty room for entrance and egress so long as drivers are respective of each others right of way and follow proper road manners. We travel this road every day and i have noticed that there are many places including churches that dont have slo-down/acceleration lanes?? This seems to be a case both of jealousy from local business owners and the small-mindedness of county regulations. You have my full support Mr.French.
by Dianne of Powhatan of Powhatan, Va Jul. 1, 2008, 10:17 PM Have you tasted the vegetables from Mr.French’s stand? Nothing like fresh home grown vegetables! Let Mr French and other farmers be. They represent something so valuable that most of us don’t remember or know about. Taking care of ourselves, living off the land. Home grown and home made!
by Angela Henley of Powhatan Jun. 30, 2008, 04:07 PM I have searched for YEARS for a convenient way to buy local produce. I even contacted hertzlers once and asked them to which they replied, we sell eggs and don’t know where you can get produce or meat. WELL I was THRILLED to see the stand on 60 and wish there were MORE! LEAVE THEM ALONE WE WANT THEM THERE! We enjoy buying from someone that we don’t have to worry about all of the RECALLS etc from, PLEASE LETS GET A FARMERS MARKET IN THE VILLAGE if you don’t want roadside how about starting something for the FARMERS and PEOPLE of your county instead of picking on someone that REALLY IS MAKING A GREAT CONTRIBUTION to our county?
by Dee S of Powhatan County Jun. 29, 2008, 09:58 PM there is no immediate danger of traffic jams occuring because this farmer has brought his harvest to powhahan’s route sixty and new dorset rd. county ordinances should be tempered with common sense and our tables should be graced with the fruits of mr. french’s labor. The devil is ever so busy i say to those who have complained regarding his produce stand.
by Gloria of Powhatan Jun. 29, 2008, 10:53 AM Just a suggestion that could help everyone. Why doesn’t the county bureaucracy come up with a much needed “Farmers Market” to be built in the Flat Rock area where the hardware store and the old grocery store once was located? Then farmers and vendors of wonderful produce such as Mr. French’s could have a safe area with safe entrances in which to sell their produce. It would bring people in from the surrounding areas to purchase not only produce such as vegetables and fruit grown locally but also be a market where people could sell honey, preserves, jams, jellies, herbs, etc. that are locally grown and processed. What a great gathering place! Gloria
by Pam of Powhatan Jun. 27, 2008, 05:39 PM Leave the French’s alone. Locally grown food is fresher, tastier and better for the environment. I routinely pass that area and I have never seen a traffic or parking problem.
by Tee Jun. 26, 2008, 03:23 PM Christina Yes I remember Jasper the people who live here now problably don’t have a clue about the Rawlings man who bought you Vanilla extract etc LOL! Wow Powhatan is on the MAP for real. Homes that cost more than 16 years of the average yearly pay for the majority of the people who work in the Admin building WOW. it is a Mess and we the true Country people let it happen To Food Lions less than 2 mins away what a joke LOL
by christina walker of south hill, va Jun. 26, 2008, 01:48 PM My grandparents and other old timers are probably rolling over in their graves! I was raised in Powhatan and just can’t believe how much it has grown into ‘no more quiet country’, when i have occasion to ride thru. Does anyone out there remember the nice old black man, Jasper, that used to deliver TO YOUR DOOR!? We used to always get something from him when he stopped. Maybe these folks could travel thru neighborhoods…but I’m sure there would be someone to complain that he was harrassing them or invading their privacy. Christina Walker Submit Your Comments Below
|
