Blacksburg examines permits after new farmers market springs up

Officials say the market, which operates without a permit, could inspire other people to sell items "rogue-style"

Previous coverage

Blacksburg’s farmers market debate Aug. 4, 2013
A tale of 2 Blacksburg farmers markets July 14, 2013

Mike Gangloff | 381-1669

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

BLACKSBURG — Town officials said that allowing a new farmers market to operate without some sort of permit could set a precedent that would allow transactions less savory than home-raised produce.

“More vegetables are good … but if they can do it rogue-style here, so can anyone else,” Vice Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith said Tuesday at a Blacksburg Town Council work session.

Without some sort of regulation, upstart markets could sell anything, whether it be food or toys or even guns, Hager-Smith and other council members said.

“You can’t just set up a tent and set up a retail space in a parking lot,” Town Manager Marc Verniel said.

The council’s discussion followed a zoning violation notice issued last week to a new farmers market that opened July 20 in a parking lot at the Blacksburg Square shopping center. Called The Community Market, it has operated Wednesdays and Saturdays since then.

These are the same days used by the long-running, town-licensed Blacksburg Farmers Market, located in downtown Market Square Park. Some at the older market have questioned whether the new market will draw away business.

If the new market’s organizers do not contest the zoning violation within 30 days, or if their appeal is denied and they continue operating, the town could impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 and seek an injunction to shut the market down, Town Attorney Larry Spencer said.

Town officials and a vendor who sells at both farmers markets said they hope the impasse won’t reach that point.

“The idea of a second market does make sense,” Councilwoman Krisha Chachra said.

“It should not be viewed as one versus the other,” added Mayor Ron Rordam, noting that the town just needs to make sure everyone follows the rules.

Tracie Harrah, whose Under the Green Umbrella sells baked goods and other items, said after Tuesday’s council session that organizers of The Community Market probably will appeal the zoning violation, talk to town staff about what type of permit might be required for the market, and also talk to council members about whether a change in the town code is needed to allow the market to operate.

The last point came up at the council’s session as Verniel and other staff members said that without more information about what is being sold or what events are planned at the new market, it was impossible to say what sort of permit might be needed. Town officials have said the older market predates present zoning rules and has its own licensing. The council might have to approve some sort of change in the town code to allow a new market, Verniel said.

Town staff said they met with organizers of the new market once last month, but a second meeting was canceled when the organizers said they did not think they needed town approval.

“It sounds like they just jumped into something without doing their homework,” Councilwoman Susan Anderson said.

An emailed statement attributed to The Community Market of Blacksburg thanked supporters Tuesday and said that “though there have been some barriers to our grassroots efforts,” organizers are confident the market fits with the town’s economic development plan. The statement referred to specific sections of town documents relating to encouraging small business and food events.

“We are confident that we will be able to constructively work toward … removal of barriers to entrepreneurship and secure the opportunity to keep this market in service for the community for years to come,” the statement said.

Harrah said the new market has 12 to 15 vendors, including many who, like her, also have stands at the Blacksburg Farmers Market.

“We’ve all got lots of seniority, we’ve been involved for a long time” at the older market, she said.

The new market is not competition but “an expansion to reach a new demographic,” Harrah said. Its location in a large parking lot makes it easier for elderly customers to reach, she explained.

So far about three-quarters of the customers at the new market have been older people, she said. Many have said they did not want to contend with the growing crowds and farther-away parking at the Blacksburg Farmers Market, she said.

“Our downtown market’s great. But it is very busy. … There’s less parking. … It’s just eliminated a group of customers,” Harrah said.

“We have 40,000 people in Blacksburg. All of them can’t come to the downtown farmers market,” she added.

Monday, August 12, 2013