Editor:
Whoa. Such strong wording for a “news” article (“Dairy Diary,” April 12). Mr. Armstrong has always struck me as an intelligent, caring and passionate family man.
That was a needless (and tactless) passage by Ms. Peyton Dahlberg. She condemns a concerned citizen whose family would have been affected by the proposed Arcata dairy to a much greater degree than most Arcatans.
And 1,200 goats? I don’t want that much crap in my back yard either, and I bet “plenty of people” would agree with that, too.
Ashley Toms, Arcata
This article appears in The Wine Maker.
They should have thought about putting their backyard in an area that was zoned for agricultural production. NIMBYism at its literal and finest.
Salzman’s Cat, how dare you make people take responsibly for their own actions! I mean reading the not-so-fine print is hard!
There seems to be a misunderstanding about what is principally permitted in Ag General zoning. When I read the zoning ordinance, I see the words “feed lot” as a Conditional Use, requiring a Conditional Use Permit. I’ve asked the agencies that regulate Cypress Grove’s farming land use–the Division Chief, Matt St. John at the Water Board, and the Kirk Girard HumCo Planning Department. Mr. Girard is relying on a 1995 Board of Supervisors decision that a (now failed) dairy that relies of confined animal feeding operations (CAFO) still is regulated as a dairy, not as a dry feed lot. So he determined that 1 acre confinement feeding operation goat barn is a CEQA-exempt agricultural accessory structure.
But Water Board Division Chief St. John determined that the proposed 1400 goats CAFO did require CEQA, and that a discretionary permit would be required to operate the facility.
I can see why it was fair to accuse me of NIMBYism back when the project was in my back yard, but after a year of researching permitting, definitions, legal code, talking with staff, etc. …well, that’s not what a NIMBY looks like. That’s what I call environmental activism.
Reasonable people should understand that there are significant environmental pollution issues that remain unstudied and unaddressed. If someone proposed building a sewage treatment plant for 4700 people’s worth of feces, there would be an EIR. But 4700 people’s worth of feces, coming from a one acre building of confined (“loafing”) goats is CEQA exempt in the County. That’s not right. And at the Water Board has the independece to do something that our politically riven Planning Department cannot.
Sincerely,
Sean Armstrong
http://www.northcoastjournal.com/news/2012/04/12/dairy-diary/
COMMENT / BY SEAN ARMSTRONG / APRIL 12, 3:32 P.M.
“I’ve been called “annoying” since I was a kid”
Some things never change.
Nothing riles up a NIMBY more than when you call them a “NIMBY”. Relax Sean, you got your way. See how ultra-groovy you are?
I just love how all these east coast hippies move here and think they know everything…including goat farming!
And no doubt the Water Board recommends getting a permit, they would recommend getting a permit for opening an umbrella in a rainstorm (water diversion) or driving an electric car through a water filled pot hole (Waters of the State). They would rather spend their time trying to figure out what is not exempt than go after actual violators to water quality.
And “I just love how all these” reactionary local dimwits are threatened by auslanders moving here. If being born here is your only claim to greatness, you’re in for a miserable life.
When I read the zoning ordinance, I see the words “feed lot”
-Sean “annoying fuck” Armstrong.
No proof needed, Sean knows all with his magical crystal bong, I mean ball.
Auslander… Hitler is up in this bitch now. Nazis and shit.
“And “I just love how all these” reactionary local dimwits are threatened by auslanders moving here. If being born here is your only claim to greatness, you’re in for a miserable life.”
I am not a local, nor do I consider locals to be dimwitted. But I do understand zoning. Sean put his backyard in the middle of this, it wasn’t the other way around. Read your deed and disclosures before closing, it may let you know there is ag land in your backyard, or maybe you would rather see more houses and less livestock?