VOP: You Need a Permit for your Garden?

GRAND TERRACE>> How far is too far for big government overreach? When do you tell your government to stop? When our Planning Director tells me that I can’t have a “garden” on my property without going through the review process, then that to me is too far. She then followed it up by ordering a ‘Notice of Correction” and then citation for my compost pile that I started to organically recondition the soil for my vegetables. Granted my compost pile as is my 5 acres is larger but proportionate to your average piece of Grand Terrace land. Most all of the property, as is mine, between the 215 Freeway and La Cadena is zoned with an “AG”, agricultural overlay. The municipal code says that “Horticulture” is permitted in the AG zone. The dictionary defines horticulture as: “The science and art of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers or ornamental plants.” All of my neighbors that are growing fruit, vegetables, etc., are all in violation of the municipal code. So what is going on here? Is it selective enforcement because I am too involved in what goes on in my community, some say outspoken when I see an injustice? Is it a government bureaucrat’s abuse of power under the color of authority? Or is it just someone who forgot that they are a public servant and lost all common sense of the public’s basic human right to grow food on their land? I thought we voted to become a city for self determination of how we wanted Grand Terrace to be. I thought in the last national election is was made clear that the people are fed up with too much government regulation. Keep government small and in its place! Take a stand and fight for your rights! Paid for by Jeffrey McConnell, community advocate