Ransom Sage Farm should be detached from Chardon City back to the Township

In 2017 Ben and Polly Sage purchased 120 acres of vacant farm land off Rt 44 N that adjoin the northern section of Sage's Apples. The younger Sages want to continue to expand by creating a pick your own farm that welcomes the community for fun, food, and education. The farm land was annexed into village, (now city,) of Chardon in the 1969. It was never developed, due in part to the hilly terrain which makes sewer lines costly, and other difficulties the numerous developers who owned the land were never able to overcome. Currently Ben and Polly have petitioned the county court to move the farm back into the township to give the farm a chance for success on par with other farms throughout Ohio. The Sages seek community support through this petition to show the Chardon City council and city managers the importance of the farm moving back to the township. 

•           This farm was originally owned by the Osborn family who farmed over 300 acres for more than 150 years, before being split up over time through the creation of roads and power lines.
•           The farm is now named Ransom Sage Farm, named for the first born in Geauga County. It is a pick your own fruit farm. In 2017 we grew and sold pumpkins and hosted wagon rides, in 2018 we grew and sold red raspberries and pumpkins, and in 2019 our Honeycrisp apples and black raspberries will be ready to pick as well! Other crops we are working on: blueberries, grapes, sweet corn, and managing the Maple trees for sugaring.
•           We are being taxed in excess of the benefits we receive from the city.  In addition, the time and finances required to work with the city are cost prohibitive when compared to Ohio townships that have simple rules for farming which are known up front.
•           Farming within city limits forces compliance to varying regulations designed for small acreage residential, commercial, and industrial usage. We have petitioned the county court to allow us to be removed from the city. This would ease the burden on city managers from creating new regulations, an agritourism overlay district, and adding variances and permission every time our farm grows or changes. Moving to the township would give the farm the same freedom to practice standard agriculture and agritourism that other farms in townships throughout Ohio enjoy.