Hamlin teen Joey Hofschneider is selling vegetables at a farm stand in front of his house, but the law says it's illegal, and the Hamlin Town Supervisor Thomas Breslawski says the board's hands are tied.
The issue has been brewing for some time in Hamlin, and Monday, it came to a head. Scores of people packed into the Town Hall, hoping for a resolution.
No decision came out of the meeting. The town supervisor made a recommendation to take this matter up at the next Zoning Board review meeting.
It was not what some people had hoped to hear at the end of Monday's Hamlin Town Board meeting. People were visibly upset and disappointed.
Some even started shouting at the board.
"Can you do it temporarily, conditional, during the growing season, for a boy, for his college?" asked one resident.
Breslawski explained his hands are tied and the town attorney agreed, saying it would take a process of weeks, if not months, to change the law.
"There is really no way to shortcut the adoption of a local law," Breslawski said.
It all started when a neighbor complained about the farm stand that Joey Hofschneider runs in front of his house. Zoning laws prohibit it.
"They said they're going to have to talk about it in the fall. In the meantime, my next crops are going to be in by then, so it's hard to say what I'm going to be able to do. So I really don't know at this time," Hofschneider said.
All summer, the 15-year-old has farmed a plot of land he was given and then sold the produce at a roadside stand. Joey says this is all very discouraging.
"I know the town wants it down there, they don't want to shut it down, but there is one neighbor that's complaining and they have to follow by the laws," he says.
Joey's mom, Karen, says, "He works from 4:30 to 9 o'clock at night. All he wants to do is make a little money for college. He's a hard working kid, he's helping the community like this. Town politics, that's all I have to say."
Despite Monday's outcome, new code enforcement officer Chad Fabry says those politics could change soon.
"The community came together on Joey's behalf which I love to see that happen, and they've turned the wheels that will now start our democracy in action and during the next zoning board review, this will probably be the number one thing to be addressed," Fabry said.
Fabry says he will have to uphold the law, and Joey says he's not going to break the law. He says he will just have to find another place to sell his vegetables.
Hamlin teen Joey Hofschneider is selling vegetables at a farm stand in front of his house, but the law says it's illegal, and the Hamlin Town Supervisor Thomas Breslawski says the board's hands are tied.
The issue has been brewing for some time in Hamlin, and Monday, it came to a head. Scores of people packed into the Town Hall, hoping for a resolution.
No decision came out of the meeting. The town supervisor made a recommendation to take this matter up at the next Zoning Board review meeting.
It was not what some people had hoped to hear at the end of Monday's Hamlin Town Board meeting. People were visibly upset and disappointed.
Some even started shouting at the board.
"Can you do it temporarily, conditional, during the growing season, for a boy, for his college?" asked one resident.
Breslawski explained his hands are tied and the town attorney agreed, saying it would take a process of weeks, if not months, to change the law.
"There is really no way to shortcut the adoption of a local law," Breslawski said.
It all started when a neighbor complained about the farm stand that Joey Hofschneider runs in front of his house. Zoning laws prohibit it.
"They said they're going to have to talk about it in the fall. In the meantime, my next crops are going to be in by then, so it's hard to say what I'm going to be able to do. So I really don't know at this time," Hofschneider said.
All summer, the 15-year-old has farmed a plot of land he was given and then sold the produce at a roadside stand. Joey says this is all very discouraging.
"I know the town wants it down there, they don't want to shut it down, but there is one neighbor that's complaining and they have to follow by the laws," he says.
Joey's mom, Karen, says, "He works from 4:30 to 9 o'clock at night. All he wants to do is make a little money for college. He's a hard working kid, he's helping the community like this. Town politics, that's all I have to say."
Despite Monday's outcome, new code enforcement officer Chad Fabry says those politics could change soon.
"The community came together on Joey's behalf which I love to see that happen, and they've turned the wheels that will now start our democracy in action and during the next zoning board review, this will probably be the number one thing to be addressed," Fabry said.
Fabry says he will have to uphold the law, and Joey says he's not going to break the law. He says he will just have to find another place to sell his vegetables.
