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Longview resident Bonnie Doble set up her produce stand on Westside Highway this summer after the city shut down the stand she operated at her small Pacific Way farm, which is not zoned for commercial uses.Roger Werth / The Daily News

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City won't change stance on produce stand

Monday, August 11, 2008 12:30 AM PDT

By Amy M.E. Fischer

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The city of Longview has no intention of relaxing its zoning laws to allow a local woman to sell regionally grown produce at her farm on Pacific Way, city officials said Friday.

Bonnie Doble, 64, moved her produce stand to a friend's commercial property on West Side Highway after the city insisted in May she stop selling any produce she doesn't grow herself. Because her 3-acre farm lies in a suburban-residential zoned neighborhood, engaging in commercial activities there violates city ordinance.

At a July 15 joint workshop between the Longview Planning Commission and City Council, Doble pleaded for an exception. She can't grow enough crops on her land to satiate people's daily appetites for fresh produce, she says. Demand for locally grown produce is increasing as gas prices and food costs rise and people are worried about contracting salmonella from imported fresh foods, she argues.

Doble wants to supplement her harvest with fruits and vegetables grown at other local and regional farms.

"My desire is to add the fruit to what I already raise here and have it available every day of the week," she said. "I just don't understand, and neither do a million other people, why the city won't allow me to supply this service."

Friday, city Community Development Director John Brickey said the planning commission didn't feel Doble's request was appropriate to include in the city's zoning code update.

"They understand this was a potential change that could have far reaching impacts in our community. ... Whatever property's in that district would have the same rights. ... The picture that came to mind was fruit stands on every lot," Brickey said. "I didn't sense the willingness by the council to take it that way or to go that far."

Neither the City Council nor the planning commission has instructed his department to proceed any further with Doble's request, Brickey said.

Doble, however, said her impression was the planning commission was somewhat receptive and wanted to hear more about her plans for the farm, which once was part of the 80-acre Longview Dairy founded in 1923.

"They haven't said no," she said. "Right now we're just kind of hanging out there in limbo, waiting for something to happen."

In the meantime, you can find Doble selling produce on Tuesdays and Saturdays at the farmer's market at the Cowlitz County fairgrounds. In addition, Doble runs a produce stand from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday on West Side Highway across from the Lexington Bridge, next door to the Chevron station. (A friend runs it while she's at the farmer's market).

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RainierRes wrote on Aug 11, 2008 6:56 AM:

" This is soo Sad!! I miss being able to run by her produce stand after work to pick up fresh vegs. I will make my way to her new location. I have been by your old farm numerous times. SAfeway Is way to expensive and Winco's produce if gross. So glad there are still places around here to buy nice produce. "

cynic954 wrote on Aug 11, 2008 7:41 AM:

" Of course the city council wont do anything. If it was spending $15,000.00 on a dog park that nobody will use or $30,000.00 on garbage can stickers they would have approved it hands down. THIS actualy helps us locals, it will never happen. "

rambos mom wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:06 AM:

" With all the negative out there in this city (area). I feel , here is a woman doing a good healthy thing to help people, and she is not allowed to do it. There are many people out there performing services on their residence (without permits) for profit and here is a gal working to provide a service for the community and I feel she is not being treated fairly. The government from the top down needs a revision. We are here for the people. Eat healthy and thrive. "

scootergranny wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:27 AM:

" If you want a change, vote out the nanny state liberals. "

viper wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:32 AM:

" Oh whats the matter city of longview she isn't big business so you don't want her out there doing some good for the people I guess this means everybody that has a garage sale in longview is going to have to have a permit or move it to a comerical neightborhood I think it a great case for discrimanation garage sales are ok but some lady who does some good in the comminty can't do business I would rather spend my money here locally then to support all the forigan countries out there who send us there garbage what is wrong with our gfoverment if it's not big business it's not allowed sure sucks! make sure that Garage sale s are not allowed in the neighborhoods also I get tired of people parking in my driveway to shop in someone elses yard :Viper (time too change our city council members ) "

Thought wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:45 AM:

" Best way to show support for this lady is to stop and shop there. I intend to but my lil bit won't make a statement but if everyone did maybe it will open some eyes. See ya there. :-) "

reasonable1 wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:48 AM:

" Does this mean that all my neighbors working at home are breaking the law, too? Child care, ebay, seamstress(ing?), computer repair, computer network management. How do you distinguish those from Bonnie's farm? They support themselves just as she does. I'm not looking to get anyone else in trouble, but just because her business takes place OUTside her walls doesn't mean she should be singled out. "

pangborn wrote on Aug 11, 2008 9:22 AM:

" Brickey is full of Bricks. He is the guy who told thenew bus station folks it was OK to drive through other peoples private property to get to the market.

Maybe he should be rezoned as unsympathetic property. "

kelsograd wrote on Aug 11, 2008 9:57 AM:

" How does the city council square their decisions with allowing thr Terry-Taylor garages sales which is a huge money maker (commercial) event. Also, the council should consider the historical significance of the original Longview Dairy Farm, And the carbon foot print they are causing by forcing the hauling of the produce to an off location site "

G444QM wrote on Aug 11, 2008 10:19 AM:

" THAT'S TO BAD. IT WOULD BE FINE WITHE ME IF SHE STAYS OUT HERE IN LEXINGTON, DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT IS CLOSE TO MY HOUSE. SHE HAS GOOD PRODUCE "

viper wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:10 AM:

" terry taylor yearly sale is as big as business that you can get in a residential neighborhood yet this is ok ? and one woman trying to make a difference is illegal? what is the difference between the two plus all the other garage sales in all the other neighbor hoods plus the mechanics doing business in there yards and pileing up junk and makeing the neighbor hood look like crap and you are worried about 1 woman who sells veggies and fruit in a out of the way location . I would rather have her selling fruit then all the garage SALES people parking in the middle of the streets I guess this is ok If you would put this much effort into meth dealers we wouldn't have the problems we have now get real city council you all need to be replaced ! it's not the people in the city that counts ! it's the money in your pockets that you are worried about! I don't like getting veggies and fruit from countries that have no control on what pesticides they use do you think they care about our health ! Viper "

Louie wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:13 AM:

" Once again the City of Longview has shown how short-sighted and uncaring they are about what this community wants and needs. What in the world is the matter with those people at City Hall? Mr. Brickey's statement that a decision in Bonnie's favor as to zoning could have far reaching impacts implying that everyone in the neighborhood would start growing vegetables and fruit for sale is totally absurd!!!
First, it takes a huge amount of work to grow enough crops to sell and I doubt there would be many people willing to take on that full-time, backbreaking job. This community needs to add their two cents worth at city council meetings and vote out those who don't see it the way of the majority.
And to 'scootergranny'...this sounds more like a Conservative decision than a Liberal one. "

rosy wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:21 AM:

" Talk about your self-fulfilling prophecies! By not granting the zoning request, they're virtualling guaranteeing a "fruit stand on every lot". Do these 'people' understand this? All they have to do to prevent this potential horror is grant the waiver she asks for. "

towncryer wrote on Aug 11, 2008 11:50 AM:

" They won't change zoning for a veggie stand, but they let a HUGE church be built in an industrial zone (by Home Depot)? How much tax money is lost there? Why bother with the planning commission? The council doesn't listen to them any way. Remember the Lowe's issue? "

Stella wrote on Aug 11, 2008 12:28 PM:

" If her produce stand must go, so must that huge "commercial" sale marketed as a garage sale, Terry-Taylor, must go. What is the difference? I have never seen traffic disrupted and backed up because someone stopped at Bonnie's farm. By the way, do any of those folks who boasted making lots of money in the paper pay any B&O taxes or sales tax? Probably not, I bet Bonnie did. "

kitten wrote on Aug 11, 2008 12:59 PM:

" I love Bonnie's farm. I had stopped on many occasions to purchase veggies and flowers. What a shame that our council could not see what a special and inviting sight is was, ballgames and families on one side of the street, fresh produce and a farm on the other. To have this right at the end of the beautiful lake is what many towns would dream of for their town image. Not Longview though, they are obssessed with promoting the downtown image of tweakers lurking in windows above a lack luster Saturday Market. "

Washington Rez wrote on Aug 11, 2008 1:04 PM:

" It is a sad time we live in. Good luck to Bonnie and everyone else trying to make a living in this town. They are running everyone out. "

The Stig wrote on Aug 11, 2008 1:39 PM:

" gang - if the city "OK"'d her fruit stand than any one of your neighbors could do something similar. neighbor wants to sell old tires? no problem. scrap yard? you bet. methadone clinic? sure thing. believe it or not, the Council probably wouldn't mind a mom-n-pop fruit stand in a neighborhood like that but it sets (important word warning) "precedent". And comparing a 7 day/week fruit stand business with the 1 day/year Terry Taylor (or any other) garage sale is ridiculous. At any rate, I am glad to hear of her biz - and I look forward to visiting her Lexington location. "

pilotmom wrote on Aug 11, 2008 2:15 PM:

" I would love to stop by to pickup produce to supplement our veggie garden, but I have no idea where the Lexington Bridge is? What is the nearest cross street? "

greenbean wrote on Aug 11, 2008 2:57 PM:

" The Lexington fruit stand is on West Side Hwy, across from Nevada drive just before the Carnival Market and the rail road bridge that crosses the Cowlitz. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. "

Thought wrote on Aug 11, 2008 3:44 PM:

" Re-greenbean. The stand is out westside highway behind the Chevron and across the street from the "Lil Car Doctor" Just past the intersection of exit 42. The other is a different fruit stand. Hope that helps.. "

El Gabilon wrote on Aug 11, 2008 3:44 PM:

" What is so hard about understanding that you are not allowed to operate a business in a non-commercial zone. In the city of Longview there are a number of people who are operating a business under the guise of "garage" sales. These should be shut down also. The city has as we understand it allowed this individual to sell vegatbles grown on her own land. However she wants to go farther by purchasing other produce and selling that also. City workers need to get off their duffs and seek out other businesses in the city who are operating without a license and thus also avoiding paying taxes. As a taxpayer we are sick and tired of paying for tax breaks given to ANY BUSINESS. We suggest also that the license to operate a business be increased to $1000 per year. "

erin_go_braugh37 wrote on Aug 11, 2008 3:53 PM:

" Big bunch o' whiners....YES, she IS doing something that is good for the environment, good on the wallet as well, but let's not forget REASONABLE1 that child care places have to have licenses to do business...so must she.

The dog park WILL be used, the stickers on garbage cans...well, there are people that do not read, but can see pictures, so those will help others.

Try to think outside the box people!! "

El Gabilon wrote on Aug 11, 2008 4:03 PM:

" People who are operating a business from their home without a license are taking away business from those who play fair and have a license. City zoning exists to keep businesses out of residential areas. The license to do business comes with a requirement that the business pay its taxes. Too many businesses have been granted tax breaks to come here. We don't need them and all tax breaks should be eliminated. Because tax breaks and subsidies exist throughout the nation, the following condition exists. Fifty plus percent of the wealth of this nation is in the hands of less than fifty people. And those fifty people, percentage wise, pay less taxes than any taxpayer residing in the city of Longview. We suggest that the City Manager of Longview get off his/her duff and put a stop to all illigtiment businesses, and see that all businesses have a license to operate or shut them down. "

Louie wrote on Aug 11, 2008 4:03 PM:

" If it is located next to the Chevron Station that would be by the new bridge that accesses the freeway in Lexington. Sparks Drive Exit, not the carnival market area. I really don't know for sure but the paper states the first option. "

Louie wrote on Aug 11, 2008 4:10 PM:

" $1000 for a business license is ludicrous. Small business start-ups have a hard enough time without a fee like has been suggested.
As for selling produce Bonnie wants to purchase from others...it is like a little co-op where other produce growers in our area get together to offer a product much in demand. Do you want your broccoli to come to your dinner table from China? I sure don't. The possible examples of new businesses that could start because of changing the zoning to make Bonnie in compliance are just plain ridiculous so that soapbox doesn't have any credibility in my opinion. "

MOLE wrote on Aug 11, 2008 5:56 PM:

" stores do not like competition,they shut all of the private enterprises down like those produce stands!!!Hawaii included. "

Mommabear wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:38 PM:

" Good grief! In the middle of increased public awareness of the need to conserve oil, it makes no sense to not allow this individual to sell her wares...NOPE, we'd rather ship it in on 18 wheelers. Critical thinking is a lost art, and the individual that made this error certainly could use a refresher course on the topic! "

WorkingClass wrote on Aug 11, 2008 8:43 PM:

" It is interesting that the City would shutdown a farm but do nothing to the numerous scrappers in Longview. I just love to wake up each day and drive through town seeing scrap metal stacked up or storage unit auctions dumped in driveways and sorted through. It is also a curious fact that a lot of these people are on disability yet are able to unload a U-Haul full of junk and strip it of metal. "

greenbean wrote on Aug 11, 2008 9:42 PM:

" Can't the city make a specific exception for this location, to avoid setting a precedent for some other type of business? And, comparing a garage sale to a business is rediculous. In these tough times, people may need to sell some of their things in order to pay the bills... give them a break. I made all of $97 at the Terry Taylor sale -- hardly a commercial business! "

Ah... Cowlitz County wrote on Aug 11, 2008 10:20 PM:

" RCW 36.71.090

(1) It shall be lawful for any farmer, gardener, or other person, without license, to sell, deliver, or peddle any fruits, vegetables, berries, eggs, or any farm produce or edibles raised, gathered, produced, or manufactured by such person and no city or town shall pass or enforce any ordinance prohibiting the sale by or requiring license from the producers and manufacturers of farm produce and edibles as defined in this section. However, nothing in this section authorizes any person to sell, deliver, or peddle, without license, in any city or town, any dairy product, meat, poultry, eel, fish, mollusk, or shellfish where a license is required to engage legally in such activity in such city or town. "

mycents wrote on Aug 12, 2008 12:06 AM:

" The City has had no problem with her selling the produce and flowers she has raised on her property, which is wonderful. What I'm understanding is that now she wants to include "regionally grown" (does that mean from Yakima?) produce that she acquires from other places. That's where she runs afoul with the city. If the city granted her a variance because it is unique -right now- and quaint & etc, how are they going to be able to justify denying that same variance to someone else? Unless, of course, the community might enjoy a neighborhood Saturday market all summer long? It could happen, and that is what City planners are responsible for, considering what "could" happen and responsibly planning that way. The bit about the property being part of the "Longview Dairy Farm" from way back when is just a very transparent pitiful attempt to tug at this area's nostalgic heartstrings. Oh Puhleeze. Without pulling out one of the many (really wonderful, btw) books on the history of the area, I'd only imagine that most likely the whole Terry-Taylor neighborhood was part of the old "Longview Dairy Farm". Historical significance my big toe. For good or not, it's been developed. FYI, the new site of the produce stand is, as stated above, near the intersection of Sparks Drive on West Side Hwy, just across from the Lil' Car Hospital, on the property that used to be Carter Country. Best of luck to her! "

thundher wrote on Aug 12, 2008 6:43 AM:

" My neighbors sell drugs out of their house- and there is a child in the house. Could you please focus on that? "

lucky1 wrote on Aug 12, 2008 8:46 AM:

" They should have arrested her on the spot. Just kidding this is ridiculous. Dont they have better things to do then to harrasst this lady. "

Gondolapete wrote on Aug 12, 2008 9:35 PM:

" I wonder if the city is aware that I make no effort to abide by their rules and regs? Oh ya show up at my place and it's obvious. "

anne wrote on Aug 15, 2008 2:17 AM:

" Here you have a hard working citizen trying to make a living off her land. Do any of the council members know how much hard work goes into planting a garden. It doesn't end when you get the seeds in the ground. I dare any one of you to spend a day at her farm and try to keep up with her. Bonnie is the hardest working person I have ever known. I'm seven years younger than her and I have trouble keeping up! She is doing all this to provide what people want and to make a living. She's not hurting anyone. What about her "GRANDFATHER RIGHTS" with the property? Doesn't that count for anything? You don't need to change the zoning codes. All you need to do is issue her a special use permit for a few months of the year! How hard can that be? People love coming to Bonnie's farm, share their memories and pick up fresh vegetables and fruit. And who is it that votes the council members into office and pays their salaries? . . . . . . "

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