Little Wood Farm

On April 12, 2002 I realized a life long dream of owning property large enough for horses, other animals and my children. Before we ever closed on Little Wood Farm I went to Town Hall to obtain a Zoning Bylaws book to educate my self and my husband on the different opportunities we had to be able to purchase this property without committing financial suicide. We came across a bylaw called the Estate Lot Bylaw. This is where the troubles began for us. Apparently we did not read into the bylaw the supposed intent of its authors, but not being clairvoyant we misinterpreted the bylaw. However at this point we were up to our ankles in horse manure, literally. We had to move forward and make our case in front of you, the Zoning Board of Appeals. We were sure that given some of the alternatives to what we were proposing that you would see fit to approve our application. I will explain to you now why this is the best use of land at 163 Seekonk St. First of all we are not developers, we sold two house lots on Seekonk Street, which are in perfect keeping with the rest of the street and will be very nice homes. We were then left with the remaining frontage which was not enough to do two more approval not required lots, with the old house sitting as it does on the property. We knew that someone that loves old homes would probably love to restore the farmhouse, but that someone would not be us. I expressed concern from the very beginning that a home with horses, children and an assortment of other creatures should not be situated directly on a main thoroughfare like Seekonk Street. My husband agreed with me, we also agreed that destroying the original house was not something we wanted. We continue to pursue the estate lot to keep the original house in tact and to build a home that would probably not even be visible from Seekonk Street.

Believe me I was not thrilled at having to sell the two lots on Seekonk Street, ask my husband. However property values are not what they were 200 years ago when this was a working farm. Neither was Seekonk Street a dangerous and busy commuter route. I think had the family that settled Little Wood Farm been here today they would agree that a better place for the main dwelling would be behind the field in the woods where we propose. This is a safe alternative for my children and animals! We have carefully planned our four-house subdivision on 33 acres. We wanted to keep the old house, barn and outbuildings in tact. Some of the board members I fear think we are doing this to make every last penny. I assure you that is not the case. What we propose is the best use of Little Wood Farm in the year 2002. Our new home will be built on approximately 10.7 acres of upland, with an approximately 17 acre non buildable lot behind it which my children and I have been using for hiking trails and trail riding. I have a real tough time calling that a subdivision. Most old homes in this town are on small parcels of land. Large farms dont work anymore; they dont make sense financially or environmentally. Farms like ours have been being subdivided for a 100 years with much more destruction and devastation to the surrounding areas then what we are proposing. The town will still have a farm when the dust has settled only it will be on 10.7 acres plus the 17-acre non-buildable lot behind us.

I grew up on a 10-acre farm in Harding Twp. N.J.; I was in love with the horses, ponies, goats, chickens and other critters. I couldnt wait to watch and participate in the foxhunts that came across our fields on a cold November morning. I cherished the big old house and barn that we played for hours in, making hay forts and swinging carelessly from the rafters. My Grandfather had to part with that property under tragic circumstances. It was probably the saddest day of my life. It has changed, but when I visit and drive by there I am happy that it is cared for and loved in much the same way we enjoyed It. In time everything changes to some degree. I imagine Little Wood Farm had the same type of kids making forts and riding their ponies in the fields for over a century. It would be a tragedy to destroy the house and barn. This is not what we want. You have to be open minded in making a decision like this. I dont like growth either, I am a country girl through and through.

There is smart growth and that is what we are striving for. This endeavor is not going to make us rich (if we want to make a lot of money we would pursue the vacant 10 acres abutting us and develop a 12 lot subdivision), we just want a safe haven for our kids and animals. Just as the original family that settled Little Wood Farm wanted. We did not intend to create such frenzy, to us it was a simple change that would make Little Wood Farm a better and more useable property.

Juli Nievergelt, Seekonk St.