Raleigh News & Observer Logo

Produce stand seeks help from Raleigh | Raleigh News & Observer

×
  • E-edition
    • Customer Service
    • Support
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • FAQ
    • Sponsorships
    • Stay connected
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Facebook
    • Google+
    • Instagram
    • Twitter
    • Social Media Directory
    • N&O Store
    • Buy Photos
    • Databases
    • Archives
    • Newsletters

    • Blogs
    • Columnists
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Health
    • Local
    • North Carolina
    • Nation/World
    • Science
    • Thumbs Up
    • Traffic
    • Weather
    • Weird News
    • All News
    • Counties
    • Durham County
    • Johnston County
    • Orange County
    • Wake County
    • All Sports
    • Baseball
    • Canes
    • College
    • Columns & Blogs
    • High Schools
    • NASCAR & Auto Racing
    • NBA
    • NFL
    • NHL
    • Olympics
    • Outdoors
    • Panthers
    • Soccer
    • Schools
    • Duke
    • East Carolina
    • NC State
    • North Carolina
    • All Politics
    • The North Carolina Influencer Series
    • State Politics
    • Blogs
    • Columnists
    • PolitiFact
    • PolitiFact NC
    • Rob Christensen
    • Under the Dome
    • All Business
    • Blogs
    • Columnists
    • Health Care
    • Personal Finance
    • Real Estate
    • Shop Talk
    • Stocks Center
    • Technology
    • All Living
    • Video Now
    • Best-Kept Secrets
    • Blogs
    • Celebrations
    • Comics
    • Family
    • Fashion
    • Fitness
    • Food
    • Games and Puzzles
    • Home and Garden
    • Horoscopes
    • Mouthful
    • Past Times
    • Pets
    • Religion
    • Travel
    • Video Now
    • Arts News
    • ArtsNow
    • Books
    • Contests
    • Dining
    • Entertainment
    • Games
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Television
    • On the Beat
    • Happiness is a Warm TV
    • All Opinion
    • Columnists
    • Dwane Powell
    • Editorials
    • Influencers Opinion
    • Letters
    • Opinion Shop Blog
    • Other Views
    • Submit a Letter
  • Obituaries

    • Advertise with us
    • Place Ad
    • Apartments
    • Cars
    • Homes
    • Jobs
    • Legals
    • Obits/In Memoriams
    • Weddings
    • Today's Daily Deal
    • Special Sections
    • Today's Circulars
    • Rewards
    • Photo Store
  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Moonlighting
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Legals

Midtown Raleigh News

Produce stand seeks help from Raleigh

By Chelsea Kellner - ckellner@newsobserver.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

June 26, 2012 12:00 AM

For Rachel Schiffelbein, running the Lyon Farms produce stand every summer bankrolls her commitment to graduating from UNC-Wilmington debt-free.

Since high school, Schiffelbein and co-manager Erin Boltz have worked their way up at the farm to be entrusted with the lucrative Raleigh location.

But the stand collided with Raleigh permit law this year and got kicked out of its Creedmoor Road location, leaving the students with nowhere to set up shop.

“We’re getting desperate. I’m ready to get down on my knees if I have to,” Schiffelbein said. “We need this.”

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to The News & Observer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

Schiffelbein and Boltz appeared before the Raleigh City Council last week asking for a 90-day variance to sell from the Abbotswood at Stonehenge retirement community in the Creedmoor Road area. Their appeal could cause previously unplanned changes in how farm stands are handled in city zoning code, which is currently being rewritten.

Under current city law, farm stands are in the same category as Christmas tree sales and fireworks vendors: eligible for a special events license that allows them to set up for 20 days or four weekends per year.

But with a growing season that extends from April to August, farm stands need a much longer time period to sell their wares.

“It’s asking us to pick between strawberries or blackberries, lettuce or watermelon,” Boltz said in her letter to the council.

In the meeting, the council’s reaction to Boltz’s proposal was positive.

“Anything we can do to increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables” would be a good idea, Mayor Nancy McFarlane said.

The stand has already been shooed away from numerous other Raleigh locations over the years: from their spot near Raven’s Ridge when Falls of Neuse Road was rerouted, from their spot at Springmoor Retirement Center because of a zoning conflict, and from their most recent location at the corner of Creedmoor and Lynn roads because of the permit conflict last year.

“Every time, they come up with new reasons,” said Rose Lyon, who helps run the main farm.

The problem with their most recent location was zoning: their permit barred them from being in a residential area.

This is the first time they have appealed to the City Council about a decision, Lyon said, because they’re having a hard time finding other places to sell.

“We’ve run out of vacant lots in Raleigh, and that’s where we do best, because we’re not bothering anybody,” Lyon said.

Current regulations are intentionally tight, said Travis Cane, Raleigh senior planner.

“One argument I’ve heard throughout my career is that if you start with produce, you end up with velvet Elvis paintings on the side of the road, and people don’t like to go there,” Crane said.

But with the girls’ appeal, Crane said, the city may consider adding a provision for farm stands into the new unified development ordinance, whose long revision process is drawing to a close.

Lyon Farms gets multiple calls a day asking when they’ll be back in Raleigh, Boltz said. The stand has already renewed its business license through next year.

The farm runs one stand on its property in Creedmoor, a small Granville County town, as well as others in nearby Butner and Oxford. But they’re hoping to maintain a presence in Raleigh, so their devotees won’t have to drive an hour or more for fresh produce.

“Our customers are loyal. They’ll find us anywhere we go, if we could just get somewhere,” Lyon said.

  Comments  

Videos

Property owner opposed to Raleigh greenway location

Men at Work leaving downtown Raleigh after 29 years

View More Video

Trending Stories

‘An angry customer shot me.’ 911 calls reveal panic at Walgreens in Garner.

February 14, 2019 10:38 AM

NC State basketball player Eric Lockett charged with assaulting a woman

February 14, 2019 06:34 AM

What’s with NC State’s basketball roster? Update on 3 players who missed Syracuse game.

February 14, 2019 10:45 AM

Wake County commissioner accuses board member of lying, taking credit for park plan

February 14, 2019 12:40 PM

UNC will have two players out against Wake Forest, possibly three, depending on Nassir Little

February 15, 2019 03:40 PM

Read Next

Man accused of July 4th killing in Raleigh is charged for three who were wounded

Crime

Man accused of July 4th killing in Raleigh is charged for three who were wounded

By Ron Gallagher

rgallagher@newsobserver.com

    ORDER REPRINT →

July 18, 2017 11:53 AM

An 18-year-old charged with murder in a July 4th shooting in Raleigh, NC, has now been charged with three assaults involving people who were wounded.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to The News & Observer

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE MIDTOWN RALEIGH NEWS

Raleigh man accused of sex offense with 13-year-old girl in 2013, 2014

Crime

Raleigh man accused of sex offense with 13-year-old girl in 2013, 2014

July 18, 2017 11:13 AM
Assault on trail at Lake Johnson Park brings police to search area

Crime

Assault on trail at Lake Johnson Park brings police to search area

July 17, 2017 10:52 AM
GA man, woman stung by undercover methamphetamine buy, Wake deputies say

Crime

GA man, woman stung by undercover methamphetamine buy, Wake deputies say

July 17, 2017 01:17 PM

Crime

Unclear why it happened, but man hurt by early morning gunshot in Raleigh

July 17, 2017 07:36 AM
Police charge suspect in Raleigh 4th of July killing with April shooting and robbery

Crime

Police charge suspect in Raleigh 4th of July killing with April shooting and robbery

July 14, 2017 12:15 PM
Man went to ER under 4 false names and got morphine twice, WakeMed police charge

Crime

Man went to ER under 4 false names and got morphine twice, WakeMed police charge

July 14, 2017 12:05 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Raleigh News & Observer App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Triangletoday.com
  • Legal Notices
Advertising
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Our Ads
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • N&O Store
  • N&O Photos
Copyright
Commenting Policy
Report News
Privacy Policy
Terms of Use


Back to Story