By Kellen Olshefski
Editor
The City of Elkhorn Common Council voted unanimously in favor of allowing Little Miss Sweet Pea’s farm stand to continue its operations on the Coldwell Banker property at 102 N. Wisconsin St. in Elkhorn.
The topic was brought to the full council as an administrative review after the city’s zoning administrator determined under city zoning codes, which prohibit more than one use on a parcel unless the secondary use is determined to be an “accessory use,” which it was determined a farm stand would not meet for the property in question.
While the farm stand formerly operated within the Walworth County Farmer’s Market, the owners, Robert and Colleen O’Neill, said July 20 their application for this year’s market was presumably denied due to the fact they sell Georgia Peaches, which a clause for the new market requires only local products be sold, though Robert O’Neill said they were never told why they were denied and don’t know that for sure.
“We’re just trying to make an honesty buck like everyone else,” he said. “We have a very good product … we’ve already lost two weeks of revenue and we really don’t want to lose anymore.”
The farm stand’s hours will continue to coincide with the farm market, concluding on Oct. 17, the final day of the market.
City Administrator Sam Tapson said Monday night while he agreed with the zoning administrator’s ruling, he thinks it’s a good thing for the community, but the council would need to grant the farm stand permission to operate on the property and then amend the zoning code to allow for these types of operations in the future.
“I think from discussion, many of us would agree that an operation of this sort, in this community, is desirable, yet, it’s not allowed,” he said.
The council voted 6-0 in favor of allowing the stand to continue to operate while the city works toward amending the zoning code to allow for farm stands in certain zoning areas in the future.
