Bountiful crop lands Clarkston Ga farmer in legal trouble

Clarkston vegetables Get man in trouble with Dekalb Co

CLARKSTON, GA (CNN) - A Georgia man is headed to court to pay over $5000 in fines over how many vegetables he can grow on his land – even though he gives them away. Code enforcement says until recently, the farmer had too many vegetable plants for his property in Clarkston, just outside Atlanta.

Steve Miller’s profession is landscaping, but his passion is growing organic vegetables. That passion landed the Clarkston man in court. Before he rezoned the land two months ago, DeKalb County Code Enforcement cited him for illegal growing crops and using unpermitted workers.

“I never realized this could get me in trouble,” Miller said. “In fact, it was a shock when I was told I couldn’t have this many vegetables.”

Miller says he sells some of the food at area farmers markets and gives some away to friends. When he applied for rezoning, his attorney says the county put the charges on hold but are now seeking $5,000 in fines.

“How are they protecting the public, health and welfare of the citizens of DeKalb County by prosecuting this man on previous offenses that are now no longer offenses,” said attorney Doug Dillard.

Alice Rolls, executive director of Georgia Organics, predicts more cases like this as vegetable gardens make a comeback.

“As agriculture comes back into urban areas we are dealing with old laws on the books,” she said.

Miller says he’ll likely spend more than $27,000 on the zoning fight, admitting that’s a lot of money to grow greens.

More From WSB

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — DeKalb County is suing a local farmer for growing too many vegetables, but he said he will fight the charges in the ongoing battle neighbors call “Cabbagegate.”

DeKalb county suing Clarkston Ga man over growing too much food!

Fig trees, broccoli and cabbages are among the many greens that line the soil on Steve Miller’s more than two acres in Clarkston, who said he has spent fifteen years growing crops to give away and sell at local farmers markets.

“It’s a way of life, like it’s something in my blood,” said Miller.

Too Much Food is fined - while too many tires and junk cars get free pass!

In January, Dekalb County code enforcement officers began ticketing him for growing too many crops for the zoning and having unpermitted employees on site. Miller stopped growing vegetables this summer and the charges were put on hold as he got the property rezoned.

Two weeks after approval, however, his attorney said the county began prosecuting the old charges, saying he was technically in violation before the rezoning.

“It should go away. I think it borders on harassment,” said Miller’s attorney Doug Dillard.|

Miller faces nearly $5,000 in fines, but he said he plans to fight those citations in recorders court later this month.A county spokesperson said officials can’t discuss the matter while it is in court, but neighbors were quick to come to his defense.

“When he moved here and I found out what he was doing I said, ‘Steve, you’re the best thing that ever happened to Cimarron Drive. And I still say that,” said neighbor Britt Fayssoux.

From AOL News by Dave Thier

“There’s a fine line between urban agriculture and backyard gardening,” said Michael Wall, communications director for Georgia Organics. “Since this is an emerging issue, there are going to be some gray areas. “Most of the time,” he continued, “it’s the laws that need updating.”

Time for a change in DeKalb Co zoning laws!

Does Dekalb Co have nothing better to site near Clarkston?

In Georgia, as across the country, many municipalities are making compromises to encourage new, productive land uses. Earlier this year, New York’s underground apiarists scored a victory when the city agreed to make beekeeping legal, and allowances for backyard chickens have been enacted in many cities, such as Seattle and New Haven, Conn.

Sometimes, however, it takes a case like Miller’s to motivate change. He’s glad that the county was able to help him rezone his land, but still stung by giant fines he incurred.

The county refused to comment as the case is still pending, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.

Take ACTION today!

Take action!

Write or call Dekalb county immediately and stop this nonsense!

Directors office 404-371-2155

Quality investigations 404-371-2167

Land Development 404-371-2365

planninganddevelopment@co.dekalb.ga.us

DeKalb Co planning and Zoning

330 West Ponce de Leon Avenue
Decatur, Georgia 30030

City of Clarkston - State of the City address.

Tags: changes in code . code enforcement, Clarkston ga zoning, dekalb Co ga, farming, gardening, Government, harrassment