I am the property owner. The temporary hoop house high tunnel referred to is a temporary structure and is standard agricultural practice in an area that has historically been used as a garden by previous property owners. The trellis we erected for our kiwis is also in an area that has always been used as a garden and is also standard agricultural practice for climbing, food producing plants. Our property has a history of agricultural use and agricultural use is a preferred use in our rural zone and protected by state, county and city codes. As may be apparent from aerial photos, my home, well house, yard and most of the garden are within a wetland buffer established long after these uses began. Luckily all of these areas slope away from the wetland which gives me peace of mind knowing that I’m not adversely impacting it despite the fact that I have a legal right to continued agricultural use in these areas.

My wife and I pride ourselves in our environmental stewardship and are fully committed to sustainable practices including growing the majority of our own food, building our animal shelters with recycled materials and continuing to live in our 1910 farmhouse instead of purchasing the materials for a new home.