For five years, the Hallowell Farmers Market has operated for several hours on Tuesday evenings at Granite City Park. But Ben Marcus, the market’s manager, has proposed changing the venue, a change that has brought so much opposition that a public meeting has been scheduled to discuss the plan.
Marcus and opponents of his proposal plan to hold a public meeting at 6 p.m. Monday at City Hall to discuss his proposed plan to move the market from its current day and location to Saturday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Vaughan Field Park.
Marcus first presented his plan during February’s City Council meeting. He said Vaughan Field Park is a more attractive venue because it would offer more space for vendors and allow the market to grow. He noted the park has existing facilities such as toilets, water and electricity and said parking would be significantly better than at Granite City Park. The market’s current day and time coincide with Hallowell’s riverfront summer concert series.
During that meeting, and during two council meetings in March, opposition came from residents who live near Vaughan Field Park, which is in a residential zone, according to Hallowell’s zoning ordinance.
Marcus, who owns and operates Sheepscot General Farm and Store in Whitefield, went back and forth with residents during the meeting and ultimately decided that more discussion was needed, so the parties organized Monday’s meeting in the hope of coming up with a solution for the upcoming season and for the future.
Councilor Kate DuFour, who lives close to and represents the ward that includes Vaughan Field Park, said the concerns are related to allowing a retail activity to operate in a residential zone. It would appear that in order for the market’s location to change, the zoning of Vaughan Field Park would have to change, too, making it unlikely that anything could happen in time for the market’s usual June opening.
“What we’re really asking is to find an alternative location for the 2016 season,” DuFour said. “Then let’s take the time and the steps necessary to determine if Vaughan Field is the most appropriate location, and if it is, how do we transition into that?”
In addition to the zoning questions, concerns were raised about the park location because of safety concerns. There’s a basketball court and children playing all the time DuFour said; and because there’d be parking on both sides of the street, public safety vehicles would not be able to get through.
“There are real concerns that are not being addressed,” DuFour said. “How do we address the concerns that are being raised?”
DuFour and other opponents of the plan hope that Monday night’s meeting will address those concerns and help the market consider alternative locations. Nobody has objected to moving the market from Tuesday evening to Saturday morning, a change DuFour said makes sense.
“Change can be very scary, and I think people need to be heard,” DuFour said. A common ground needs to be achieved.”
Hanne Tierney, leader of the Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets, said via email that location is important for a market.
“Generally, a location that trucks can pull into, that is very visible to the public and is where people already are helps a market thrive,” Tierney said. “It is nice if there is a green space nearby, some lighting and some scattered tree shade.”
Operating a farmer’s market on city land is fairly common, Tierney said, and the market and the market’s host typically discuss terms of use. Markets in Portland, Bath, Brunswick, Lewiston and Boothbay are among those that use city property.
“The location needs to be carefully discussed and all the concerns need to be addressed,” DuFour said. “That is the approach that I would prefer, because it gives everybody time to make the appropriate accommodations.”
Jason Pafundi — 621-5663
Twitter: @jasonpafundiKJ
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