Agricultural Commission refines Right to Farm bylaw language
Freetown Agricultural Commission refines Right to Farm bylaw language. The commission, meeting with three of four members present (Donna Ashley, Frank Ashley, and Melissa Lopes-McKenna, with Jennifer Durant absent), discussed revisions based on state 61A requirements and comparable towns' models.
Agricultural Commission (Town of Freetown) · Meeting of June 2, 2026
Freetown Agricultural Commission refines Right to Farm bylaw language. The commission, meeting with three of four members present (Donna Ashley, Frank Ashley, and Melissa Lopes-McKenna, with Jennifer Durant absent), discussed revisions based on state 61A requirements and comparable towns' models. Members agreed to adjust acreage thresholds to capture smaller eligible farms while excluding hobby operations, add agricultural aircraft such as helicopters and drones to operative equipment definitions, and remove language perceived as unfriendly to new residents, adopting instead an acceptance-based approach modeled on Middleboro's bylaw.
The commission will finalize its version and outline presentation steps at its July 14 meeting.
In the full story:
- The complete report — 337 words
Source: the Agricultural Commission (Town of Freetown) meeting of June 2, 2026, compiled from the official minutes.
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