Zoning and Plot Rentals

Penn Yan Village Office on Elm St.

Village Code Officer Bruce Lyon has provided further clarification about the residential zoning of Pleasant Ave. and our plan to rent plots in the garden.  Collecting rent for individual plots would be considered commercial activity, which is not allowed in a residential area. Bruce suggested that instead we develop ourselves as a non-profit organization and invite people to join as members. We could then charge an annual membership fee which would allow people to have access to the garden. The garden itself would be maintained cooperatively for all members, rather than charging a direct fee for each separate plot.

My feeling is that this would be a nice way to give people collective ownership of the entire garden, rather than an individual claim on a little piece of it. It would also help prevent anyone from confusing the community garden with a for-profit business.

Bruce has recommended that we speak with an attorney about how to structure our organization to meet the requirements for operating in a residential area.