Local farmer's market faces zoning issues

Mike Pope, owner of George's produce market, has been battling zoning issues on the business's property recently. 

“An enforcer gave me a cease and desist and that you have one day to move everything or else there’ll be legal action," Pope said.

His mother, Heather Pope, said the town never gave him a heads up when he moved the market from Main St. in Amherst to the new location... directly on the border. The Williamsville side of his property falls under M 1 zoning, meaning retail is allowed. Unfortunately, the other fifth of an acre on the Amherst side falls under the research and development zone, where he's not allowed to sell anything. 

A few loyal customers if wrote the town of Amherst claiming that the troubles it's giving Pope are silly. 

“They’re not happy, they’re all on my side, they love this business," Pope said. 

His mother on the other hand, was more upset over that hassle of moving their stands about 10 to 20 feet. 

“But see it was all tables, big tables with plants so you have to take everything off," she said. “It was already all set up, so it was quite a bit of work to move everything.” 

According to code enforcement officers, Amherst has been cooperative and is just following the policy to get the area rezoned. Pope has a hearing with the town of of Amherst on Tuesday night at 6:30 where he will file for variance, meaning he'll be allowed to use the land at his discretion until it is rezoned.