Source: https://www.ecode360.com/30760965
Timestamp: 2019-01-16 08:05:18
Document Index: 307911995

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 144', '§ 144', '§ 144', '§ 144', '§ 3', '§ 9', '§ 125', '§ 1']

Town of Middleborough, MA Farming
§ 144-1 Legislative purpose and intent; scope.
§ 144-3 Right to farm declaration.
§ 144-4 Disclosure notification.
§ 144-5 Resolution of disputes.
Chapter 144 Farming
Earth removal — See Ch. 133.
The purpose and intent of this bylaw is to state with emphasis the right to farm accorded to all citizens of the Commonwealth under Article 97 of the Constitution, and all state statutes and regulations thereunder, including but not limited to MGL c. 40A, § 3, Paragraph 1; MGL c. 90, § 9, MGL c. 111, § 125A, and MGL c. 128, § 1A. We the citizens of Middleborough restate and republish these rights pursuant to the Town's authority conferred by Article 89 of the Articles of Amendment of the Massachusetts Constitution ("Home Rule Amendment").
This general bylaw encourages the pursuit of agriculture, promotes agriculture-based economic opportunities, and protects farmlands within the Town of Middleborough by allowing agricultural uses and related activities to function with minimal conflict with abutters and Town agencies. This bylaw shall apply to all jurisdictional areas within the Town.
Keeping and raising of poultry, swine, cattle, ratites (such as emus, ostriches, and rheas) and camelides (such as llamas and camels), and other domesticated animals for food and other agricultural purposes, including bees and fur-bearing animals.
The right to farm is hereby recognized to exist within the Town of Middleborough. The above-described agricultural activities may occur on holidays, weekdays, and weekends by night or day and shall include the attendant incidental noise, odors, dust, and fumes associated with normally accepted agricultural practices. It is hereby determined that whatever impact may be caused to others through the normal practice of agriculture is more than offset by the benefits of farming to the neighborhood, community, and society in general. The benefits and protections of this bylaw are intended to apply exclusively to those commercial agricultural and farming operations and activities conducted in accordance with generally accepted agricultural practices. Moreover, nothing in this bylaw shall be deemed as acquiring any interest in land, or as imposing any land use regulation, which is properly the subject of the state statutes, regulation, or local zoning law.[1]
"It is the policy of this community to conserve, protect, and encourage the maintenance and improvement of agricultural land for the production of food, and other agricultural products, and also for its natural and ecological value. This disclosure notification is to inform buyers or occupants that the property they are about to acquire or occupy lies within a Town where farming activities occur. Such farming activities may include, but are not limited to, activities that cause noise, dust, and odors. Buyers or occupants are also informed that the location of property within the Town may be impacted by commercial agricultural operations, including the ability to access water services for such property under certain circumstances."
In addition to the above, copies of this disclosure notification shall be available in a public area at the Town Hall, Town Clerk, and posted in the Middleborough Public Library.
Any person who seeks to complain about the operation of a farm may, notwithstanding pursuing any other available remedy, file a grievance with the Select Board, the Zoning Enforcement Officer, or the Board of Health, depending upon the nature of the grievance. The filing of the grievance does not suspend the time within which to pursue any other available remedies that the aggrieved may have. The Zoning Enforcement Officer or Select Board may forward a copy of the grievance to the Agricultural Commission or its agent, which shall review and facilitate the resolution of the grievance, and report its recommendations to the referring Town authority within an agreed-upon time frame.
If any part of this bylaw is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the remainder of this bylaw. The Town of Middleborough hereby declares the provisions of this bylaw to be severable.