Lopez Island farm calls it quits

Liberty Live

December 08, 2011

Lopez Island residents, Nick and Sara Jones have operated an organic farm for the past two years. Customers have used a cash box and the honor system to purchase seafood and beef from a small farm stand near the road. The Jones Family Farm was running smoothly until two weeks ago when Nick received a letter from San Juan County. The county wants Nick to upgrade his stand to comply with commercial building codes—including upgrading handicap access. Nick estimates the commercial upgrades to cost approximately $25,000.

San Juan County has harassed Nick and Sara Jones to the point where they have finally given up. What has happened to their small retail farmstand? Thanks to San Juan County, they are closed.

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November 18, 2011 Press Release from Nick and Sara Jones [click here]
November 30, 2011 Letter from San Juan County Administrator [click here]
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Author

Scott Roberts

Citizen Action Network Director

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Reader Discussion

Posted by Sharon Abreu December 10, 2011: What’s so ironic to me is that we have a county council that leans toward less regulation of “business”. So it’s bothersome to me that, as community members in our county - small local businesses - endeavor to move toward a more sustainable lifestyle for themselves and their community, it’s the county that’s in effect shutting them down. The county should be supporting these community members and small local businesses. At the very least, they should make their requirements clear at the outset.
Sharon Abreu, Orcas Island

Posted by Ben Name December 12, 2011

Scott,

The travesty here is not that San Juan County is unfairly imposing regulations on the Jones. It’s really that the Jones do not understand the proper way make their “shack” accessible to all people and safe for all people and are now being turned into victims rather than being guided to the best solution to their problem.

Thousands of people fought for the right to be able to have the same access to goods and services that able bodied people do. This was called the American’s with Disabilities Act. It’s intention is to give people who are physically challenged the equal opportunity to the things the rest of us take for granted. By ignoring these people the Jone’s have limited their customer base by about 15%. Reducing one’s costumer base to start does not seem like good business sense.

Having a safe place to do business is paramount to retaining customers. People will not return to a place of business if they or someone they know are injured or worse are killed there. Not only is this inconvenient for customers it also increases a person’s insurance policy. What do you think the Jones’ insurance provider will do now that they know their building is not built to safe standards? I bet their insurance rates increase and don’t come down (ever).

Neglecting both of these concerns will eventually lead to a law suit brought on the Jones. That is a guarantee with our current social mentality.

Their business is likely to be the biggest investment they will ever make. Shortsightedness on matters of building design without the use of an architect is like having major surgery without going to see a doctor. Sure the appendix might get removed but wouldn’t it be safer to go to a hospital and use a trained and practicing doctor to do the job? Architects are under-appreciated in this regard. Most people just see them as the playthings of the uber-rich but in reality almost everyone needs their assistance. It is a myth that building contractors have all the answers. They can be right in a lot of situations (most often construction methods), but it is not their job to know and understand the all requirements needed to properly plan a building.

Instead of recommending legal action to the Jones and make them victims it would be in their best interests to empower them with the recommendation of a quality architect that can help them minimize what work is needed to make their current building safe and accessible for all.

Posted by Charlie Madigan January 02, 2012: i sympathize with the young farmer, but i think the bigger question is whether they checked any of this out before they opened their stand. the “cost of doing business” is a big pain for everyone, but it is a uniform big pain for everyone. now the county is in a situation where it must act because of its codes and regulations. it’s not in a position to help by just ignoring its own regs. these seem to be very responsible and caring people who would never do anything to injure a customer, but that’s not what regulation is based on. unfortunately, the track record dictates rules. pick up food poisoning at an unregulated stand sometime and see if that changes your mind. on the other hand, there is a distinction between “can’t” spend and “don’t want to” spend. maybe some clear thinking support groups can help come up with the money they need, or at least give them a boost. too bad. but regulation is not the culprit in all cases.