Protesters appeal to commission to halt Finn Road farm fill project
Protesters of a farm fill project are asking the Agricultural Land Commission to reconsider its decision to lift a stop-work order on Finn Road.
In a letter to the commission Feb. 26, protesters said they are concerned the property will become unsuitable for farming if dumping of construction waste continues.
Seven people from the group FarmWatch signed the letter, including retired farmer Ray Galawan, who started a protest outside the 9360 Finn Rd. farm on Jan. 16.
“There are still serious violations happening at this farm,” said Galawan in a news release Friday. “This road is twice as wide as the legal width, and they’re dumping container loads of massive concrete pieces full of rebar.”
Bill Jones is one of the lease-holders of the property, and is preparing it for a future tree nursery. In an interview, he said the project is in “total compliance” with the commission and noted the farm is regularly monitored by officials.
Jones said the all-weather road is only partially finished; edges will be brought in to create a proper width later.
He also said oversized pieces of concrete are being broken up on site and rebar is being removed and put aside for disposal.
“I’s almost impossible to get recycled concrete without some rebar—and we take that out,” he said.
“We’re not trying to sidestep anybody.”
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