Save A Small Business
Donation protected
Steve Forster is a farmer... and anyone who's tried to maintain even a small garden in the great state of New Hampshire knows how challenging that can be. There's a good reason they call us The Granite State.
Our beautiful ruggedness has been the mainstay of the New Hampshire economy for more than a century, attracting crowds of honeymooners and vacationers who truly understand the peace and serenity that dominates our mountains, fields, forests and quaint New England towns.
Our community believes that a solid agritourism policy is critical to preserving our state's status as one of America's most scenic destinations. And that's where Steve's story begins...
Steve's primary business was his Christmas Tree Farm & Gift Shop which generated income during the short holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas. He recently spent 4 long years trying to establish a legal venue for weddings to provide secondary income and ensure the financial future of the farm. Unfortunately, this story does not have a happy ending.
The Town of Henniker has two government bodies responsible for all aspects of land use. The Planning Board is a legislative body that establishes regulations and issues permits whereas the Zoning Board of Adjustments is a judicial body that approves variances and ensures that our residents and businesses operate within those regulations. At least, that's the way it's supposed to work. In reality, the ZBA decided they can act independently of the regulations established by the Planning Board. To make matters worse, they've also chosen to apply their power selectively -- approving the permits they personally agree with and rejecting all others.
In 2016, the Henniker Planning Board established a Conditional Use Permit for agritourism that would have allowed Steve to move forward with his plans. Steve submitted a site plan review application that addressed all concerns of the Planning Board, the Police Department and the Fire Department and his Conditional Use Permit was approved. That should have been the end of it, but the ZBA once again overstepped its bounds and pulled the plug.
Steve's story illustrates a dangerous precedent that threatens the future of every family-operated business in this state. As a community, we are committed to supporting the growth of our local businesses that contribute to the preservation of our little town. That commitment has led to the establishment of The Evergreen Defense Fund whose purpose is to provide legal and financial support for any local business who is being treated unfairly.
We sincerely appreciate any amount you're willing to give, no matter how small. 100% of donations will be contributed to the defense fund.
If you ever find yourself in the vicinity of Henniker, New Hampshire, we hope you'll stop by and visit. We're a friendly bunch and we're quite proud of this little piece of heaven we call home.
Our beautiful ruggedness has been the mainstay of the New Hampshire economy for more than a century, attracting crowds of honeymooners and vacationers who truly understand the peace and serenity that dominates our mountains, fields, forests and quaint New England towns.
Our community believes that a solid agritourism policy is critical to preserving our state's status as one of America's most scenic destinations. And that's where Steve's story begins...
Steve's primary business was his Christmas Tree Farm & Gift Shop which generated income during the short holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas. He recently spent 4 long years trying to establish a legal venue for weddings to provide secondary income and ensure the financial future of the farm. Unfortunately, this story does not have a happy ending.
The Town of Henniker has two government bodies responsible for all aspects of land use. The Planning Board is a legislative body that establishes regulations and issues permits whereas the Zoning Board of Adjustments is a judicial body that approves variances and ensures that our residents and businesses operate within those regulations. At least, that's the way it's supposed to work. In reality, the ZBA decided they can act independently of the regulations established by the Planning Board. To make matters worse, they've also chosen to apply their power selectively -- approving the permits they personally agree with and rejecting all others.
In 2016, the Henniker Planning Board established a Conditional Use Permit for agritourism that would have allowed Steve to move forward with his plans. Steve submitted a site plan review application that addressed all concerns of the Planning Board, the Police Department and the Fire Department and his Conditional Use Permit was approved. That should have been the end of it, but the ZBA once again overstepped its bounds and pulled the plug.
Steve's story illustrates a dangerous precedent that threatens the future of every family-operated business in this state. As a community, we are committed to supporting the growth of our local businesses that contribute to the preservation of our little town. That commitment has led to the establishment of The Evergreen Defense Fund whose purpose is to provide legal and financial support for any local business who is being treated unfairly.
We sincerely appreciate any amount you're willing to give, no matter how small. 100% of donations will be contributed to the defense fund.
If you ever find yourself in the vicinity of Henniker, New Hampshire, we hope you'll stop by and visit. We're a friendly bunch and we're quite proud of this little piece of heaven we call home.
Organizer and beneficiary
Brenda Bell
Organizer
Henniker, NH
Stephen Forster
Beneficiary
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