Subscribe
Community
Farmers' co-op to run market
Friday, March 6, 2009
|
| ||
|
E-Mail This Article
St. Mary's County government bought more than 100 acres in 2006 at the corner of Three Notch Road and Forest Park Road in Lexington Park for several reasons — to preserve agricultural land, provide a location for some affordable housing and offer space for a farmers market.
On Tuesday, a company of seven farmers entered into an agreement with the county commissioners to get started on that market.
Farmers markets already operate at the Charlotte Hall library parking lot and in the parking lot of BAE Systems in Lexington Park.
This group, Home Grown Farm Market, would sell goods and produce from an actual building on undeveloped land — and not on pavement.
"This is a true cooperative," said Bob Schaller, director of the St. Mary's County Department of Economic and Community Development, as the group came together to promote agriculture.
The seven founding farmers are Brett Grohsgal, Abby Trossbach, Larry Thomas, George "Junior" Trossbach, Don Magnani, Alan Sivak and Barry Roache. While they are the founding members, it is open to all farmers. The entire group would be responsible for any operating expenses on the property.
St. Mary's County has $187,241 from state cigarette lawsuit restitution funds to build a farmers market, said Donna Sasscer, county government agricultural specialist.
A minor site plan was donated for the project for free, but during the development review process, the Maryland State Highway Administration required a commercial entrance to the location from Route 235. The project now needs a major site plan, which is not free.
The cigarette money could pay for the site work and the building construction, but if an acceleration/deceleration lane is required on Route 235, that could consume the money for the building, Sasscer said.
The goal is to start work this summer on the building, which would be 50 by 100 feet with the ability to be fully enclosed at a later date.
A lease agreement would be needed in the future with the cooperative and the county needs to come up with a plan for the property's 31 transferable development rights.
