Town officials face a delicate balancing act in the case of a South Amherst farmer whose neighbors have complained about “intolerable smells” from her property. We commend the Board of Health for putting a hold on ordering Michelle Chandler to get rid of her animals, and we encourage seeking a compromise allowing the farm and surrounding neighborhood to co-exist.
Chandler since 2008 has kept chickens and rabbits, which she raises to feed her family, on her 1.14-acre parcel at 326 West Pomeroy Lane in South Amherst. Later she added goats at her Blessed Acre Farm and Rabbitry, which borders the Hadley town line and a residential neighborhood in Amherst.
Under the town’s zoning bylaws, Chandler is allowed to keep on her property livestock for consumption. She now has 15 rabbits, 50 hens and 10 goats. She contends that she has done nothing wrong, and that the complaints by John and Susan Fortin, of 316 West Pomeroy Lane, are unreasonable.
“I am deeply aggravated that there is such upset at this,” Chandler said earlier this month. “I’m trying to live with integrity and raise meat in an ethical manner, and I’m sorry it’s causing discomfort to anybody.”
On the other hand, Susan Fortin said, “We just want to live on a property and be able to go in our backyard and not be overwhelmed by the smell of feces.”
Town officials have two concerns with Chandler’s farm. Building Commissioner Rob Morra said the zoning issue is that she failed to register her livestock. “A registration will identify the type and number of livestock in order to confirm further compliance with regulations.”
After a Feb. 8 inspection, the Board of Health issued a cease-and-desist order stating that Chandler “must remove all livestock, including but not limited to chickens, rabbits and goats, from the property no later than Feb. 15, 2018. Further, due to the history of nuisance complaints and concerns for animal well-being, any applications for a livestock permit will not be accepted for (her) property.”
According to Health Director Julie Federman, the order resulted from numerous complaints during January and February of the unpleasant smell caused by rabbit feces on Chandler’s property. “The basic issue is Ms. Chandler keeps a lot of animals on her property and there’s a lot of odor,” Federman said. “We’ve worked closely with her to come up with remedies and solutions, and it’s just not working.”
Chandler challenged the order, and the Board of Health decided March 8 to delay its enforcement for 60 days so the Zoning Board of Appeals can determine if the farming operation is legal. “You’ve got to talk to the Zoning Board of Appeals because we need some direction from them,” Board of Health Chairman Marco Boscardin told Chandler.
Most of the 15 residents who attended the health board hearing supported Chandler. Dael Chapman of Pondview Drive said she often gets eggs from the farm and has never noticed any smell.
Chandler points out that she has been outspoken, rather than secretive, about her farming, including advocating at Town Meeting seven years ago for bylaws allowing more residents to keep chickens and rabbits.
Chandler’s lawyer, Marwan Zubi, concluded, “What this boils down to is the complaint is that Ms. Chandler’s farm smells like a farm.” While that may be true, we find it hard to believe Chandler’s contention that any odors from her farming activities end at her property line.
While we agree that the Fortins and other neighbors should not be overwhelmed by the smell of rabbit droppings, they do live in an agricultural area — and with that, inevitably, comes the odor of manure.
We support Chandler’s right to have livestock on her property and commend her promotion of a sustainable lifestyle. Still, there are steps she can take to satisfy the town and be a good neighbor.
First, Chandler should register her livestock to comply with town regulations and be clear about how many animals she is keeping on her property. Second, we encourage her to keep working with experts from the University of Massachusetts on a plan to compost the manure — most of which is generated by the rabbits — to reduce the odor.
We hope these measures keep this small-scale farmer in business.