This is about roots

Last Friday, September 24, the Encinitas City Council reached a compromise in the “conflict of cultures.”

The council voted to reject the appeal by a few disgruntled neighbors of the Coral Tree Farm and Nursery and allow its owner, Laurel Mehl, to continue farming on the land she was born on. Mehl claimed her two-acre farm was old Encinitas agriculture, operating as a farm since the 1920s, and grandfathered in when the city incorporated in 1986.

The council, after looking at aerial maps, water-usage records, and hearing testimony from longtime residents, concurred that Mehl was, in fact, old-time agriculture. Mehl can continue to sell her fruit and vegetables to residents. The council also overturned a planning department denial and approved Mehl to continue to sell boxed produce commercially to local markets. A few of the six neighbors on the short cul-de-sac, Park Lane, tried to prove that the farm had ceased operations in 1992 for more than 120 days, which would have caused it to lose its grandfathered status.

Though Mehl won that part of the case, she was denied approval to continue offering additional activities (community farming workshops, yoga classes, and farm-to-table invitational dinners) without first applying for a $1600 conditional use permit.

Councilwoman Teresa Barth said she thought the city had reached a good compromise, as the city is currently drafting an urban agricultural ordinance, which will address what type of activities, would be allowed without additional permits.

“I feel really good about it,” said Mehl. “I just love growing food for people; that’s the bottom line.” She is encouraged that with the current make up of the city council (including the hopes that her attorney, Catherine Blakespear, a candidate for council, will be elected in November) will pass ordinances that support the few remaining local farms.