Pigs and chickens denied residence at restaurant farm
Zoning Board of Appeals votes down request to allow livestock to remain
Five pigs and 28 chickens, who briefly lived on the grounds of a Sylvan Table restaurant, will no longer call Sylvan Lake home.
After a tour of the farm facilities, the Sylvan Lake Zoning Board of Appeals voted 3-2 on Wednesday night to deny permission to keep livestock on the restaurant property.
Kristina Pruccoli, the farm manager, had moved the pigs and chickens onto the five-acre property after misreading the city ordinance.
She is passionate about the farm-to-table, sustainable restaurant concept.
Many residents just weren’t happy with having pigs and chickens for neighbors.
“I love it, I think it’s amazing, I think the whole concept is amazing. I just struggle with it being right there between that commercial (fast-food restaurants) and those homes. And the concerns of the residents,” said ZBA chairman Nicole Menuck. “The difference is
the residents live here, they go to bed here. You come here, run a restaurant, run a farm and go somewhere else to sleep.”
Menuck said the denial was in no way suggesting that the community does not support the restaurant which is built in a refurbished 300-year-old barn that was moved piece by piece from Maine.
“I’ve only heard amazing things from everyone who is eating and going there.
“I don’t want it taken in any way that this city doesn’t want that restaurant to survive,” Menuck added.
About a dozen residents spoke during the open comment period with two in favor of allowing the livestock. Others, including several Avondale Street residents who are the closest to the restaurant, objected.
“The people that live on Avondale — their properties abut Sylvan Table — very well may take a hit with their property values. I think knowing that people have an excuse to say this house is next to a farm with pigs. Personally I love pigs, that’s me. A lot of people think they’re disgusting and are going to use that to low-ball when they place options on the table for property,” said ZBA member Mary Ann AbramsonKisbaum. “Perception becomes reality.”
One Avondale resident, Jerry Rozycki, found it hard to understand why the pigs and chickens were ever allowed in the first place. He wrapped up his comments with three succinct words: “Anyway, it stinks.”
The concerns were issued at the first ZBA hearing a month ago and the same issues arose on Wednesday. Many were confirmed by the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Urban Development (MDARD).
Sylvan Lake City Manager John Martin reported that he had provided background information to MDARD and then met virtually with two MDARD members and the Sylvan Lake city attorney this week.
“With pigs and chickens, (expect) rodents, rats, flies. They will be there, that is a given. They are attracted to everything: the feed, the animal manure, compost, etc. Skunks, raccoons, foxes and coyotes will be attracted to the chickens and the feed,” Martin said, quoting the MDARD representatives.
“They said this is not a generally accepted practice due to location. According to MDARD this is not a generally accepted location because it’s close to high-density residential personal property,” Martin added.
A motion by ZBA member Brian Schulz to table the matter was defeated 3-2.
Then ZBA secretary Patty Harrop made a motion to deny the Sylvan Table request and, along with an amendment to the motion, it was passed 3-2.
The pigs and chickens will be removed. No timetable was given.
The restaurant will continue to grow produce and produce honey from several bee hives.