LAGRANGE – The Town of
LaGrange is suing the Dutchess County Legislature and Juliette Landi,
co-owner of Remsburger’s Honey and Maple on Traver Road in the town. The
lawsuit stems from the legislature’s inclusion of the business property
in a county “agricultural district” despite the town’s objection
to it.
According to Town Supervisor Alan Bell, Landi bought the property in 2017
with business partner Dennis Remsburger. Bell says that Remsberger, a
beekeeper, met with the town’s assessor seeking an agricultural exemption
for the property because they intended to harvest honey at the location.
The couple did receive a home occupation permit for their business. Bell
noted that Landi and Remsberger sought inclusion through the Dutchess
County Farmland Protection Bureau (FPB) and were denied on two separate
occasions. The county legislature accepted the FPB decision the first
two times but voted to include the parcel on August 20 in a 13-10 vote.
Bell is “disappointed that Remsburger didn’t keep his word after
he agreed to the parameters set up by the town in granting the home occupation
permit. I’m disappointed in our legislative representative, Dale Borchert,
for supporting something the town vehemently opposed and I’m also disappointed
that the legislature didn’t acknowledge the refusal by the FPB to not
grant the inclusion.”
County Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver said that the Landi parcel, all
2.1 acres of it, was declared to be “not a critical parcel”
by the FPB. “This is not a shock that the Town of LaGrange has sued
the legislature over this. I’m sure that the courts will examine all of
the facts before rendering a decision.”
Pulver did praise the Farmland Protection Board saying it has “some
of the best people available to make decisions and recommendations to
the legislature that affect agriculture.”
Pulver happens to be the only professional farmer on the lawmaking body.
Legislator Borchert did not return calls seeking comment.
Juliette Landi and Dennis Remsburger said they feel as if the town is
trying to interfere with their home-based business of preparing and selling
both honey and maple syrup. Landi had previously received a home occupation
permit and “complied with all of the parameters set forth by the
town.” The town rescinded the permit based on “complaints”
on September 18, 10 days before filing the lawsuit. When asked what the
most frustrating aspect of the lawsuit is, Landi said “I feel like
I am being singled out. I am trying to run an honest to goodness business
and do the right thing.” Landi claims that Remsburger’s Honey and
Maple does around $300,000 annually.
The town’s lawsuit seeks relief including the permanent revocation of
the home occupation permit, restraining Landi and Remsburger from keeping
beehives at the location and replacement of trees that were removed to
accommodate the home-based business. According to Landi, two of the trees
removed were done so because they were dead and the additional two trees
were removed to make room for solar panels that the town had approved.
The town also seeks to restrain Landi and Remsburger from using box trucks
to transport beehives to and from their property.
