Gerard Aucoin says without his farm, he would perish.
He and wife Cora Aucoin were ordered by the Town of Kippens in March of this year to remove all fencing, signage, two livestock buildings and the livestock from their property.
Those orders were later rescinded, but on Oct. 16 they received a new document that included all four orders. The new document is demanding compliance by June 1, 2019.
The farm where the Aucoins live in Kippens was once secluded, but a subdivision that was developed next door has changed that.
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Kippens couple told to tear down the farm
Cora said the town has blindsided her and her husband with this new order. She said the couple was asked to provide proof regarding existing non-conforming use. She said they provided the documentation prior to the deadline but have not received any communication from the town or its solicitor since.
“We believe we are being harassed, bullied and victimized by the town,” she said.
Gerard said he has been raising animals since he was a teenager and he believes in organics and biodynamic farming, which uses no chemicals and manure is used for fertilizer. The manure is used to grow crops, provides nutrients in the orchard and helps grow food for their animals.
“If the animals are gone, my way of life is gone,” he said. “I want to live this lifestyle and there is no way I’d afford to live without this farm I worked hard for.”
The Aucoins said the property has been in their family since 1895 and has been used as agricultural and farming land for generations — long before the Town of Kippens was incorporated.
Cora said that in 2012 a zone change to the Comprehensive Development Area was made exclusively residential and that was done without their knowledge.
“Why is the legislated right to continue existing non-conforming use not recognized by the town?” she asked.
She said it’s their understanding the developer took the Town of Kippens to an appeal court to have the orders reissued. She said the appeal court was postponed a couple of times and is now rescheduled for mid-November, so the couple is trying to understand why they’ve received the tear-down orders from the town prior to that appeal hearing.
“We have a town council which does not have a vision that embraces our community culture,” Cora said.
Deputy Mayor Leon Benoit said council has been beating their heads against the wall for about seven months on this issue but had to follow through on the regulations.
“We’re (council) not trying to hurt them (Aucoins) but we have to follow through,” he said. “They have the right to appeal and I hope they do and if they get to keep what they have that’s great.”
Benoit said council met with the Aucoins to try to come up with a compromise but that didn’t work out.
“I guess we’ll have to let the courts decide,” he said.
The Aucoins said they heard council’s vote on the new order was and three in favour and two against motion.
In the meantime, an online petition asking for signatures to support the couples’ bid to keep their farm intact had gathered more than 19,100 signatures as of Wednesday evening. Many of those who signed the petition left comments.
“This should never had been a topic to discuss in my opinion. If the farm was there before the town was even established then the town has no right to make a family destroy their livelihood to make room for more sub divisions. I hope this family keeps their farm forever,” wrote supporter Jennifer Bell.
“We need more self-sustainability right now not less!!” Kim Brake wrote.
https://www.change.org/p/save-the-aucoin-family-farm-kippens-newfoundland
