Cease-And-Desist Order Issued Against Farm In Seymour

SEYMOUR, CT — The Zoning Board of Appeals has ruled against Red Clover Farms, upholding a cease-and-desist order to prohibit specific activities, according to WTNH News-8.

The board voted unanimously to uphold the order, which prohibits weddings, vendor markets, musical performances and other activities.

The board said at its Thursday night meeting that the activities do not fall under the guidelines of a farm, WTNH News-8 reported. The board also contends that the farm had not obtained the proper permits before a complaint began an investigation.

Red Clover Farms wrote on its Facebook page that the cease-and-desist order originates from a neighbor's complaint and applies to "all workshops/lectures, art, music, wellness, local vendor markets, open mics... basically things that bring people to the farm to enjoy so that they can also shop our farm products to essentially keep our farm open."

The post goes on to note that each event brings in about five to seven people.

Previous complaints from the neighbor have been about noise, but the new complaints center on zoning.

The post has over 100 comments, many of which are supportive of the farm.

"This is all such a shame," one commenter wrote. "I was so excited when I first saw your events, we need so much more of this in our communities, not less."

The farm will have the chance to appeal to a higher court. However, owner Kim Warner told WTNH News-8 she's not sure if she's going to appeal the decision due to the high cost.

The farm's website notes they're raising money to fight the cease-and-desist order: "These are the original antique milk bottle caps that I found in our old milk house dairy cooler. I am selling them to raise money for legal fees & operating costs to fight a zoning cease and desist order. Thank You For Supporting!"

An attorney for the neighbor told WFSB 3-TV in May that their concerns are about activities unrelated to farming and that are not included in the town's definition of a farm.