Joanne Moniz should mind her own business. She is not or has ever been the zoning board. Now she is starting trouble for the couple who just bought the house right across the street from Tiger Tree. It would be much better here if some people would move back to the city where they came from.

So many thanks to Senator DiPalma for seeing the necessity to propose this legislation so that no residents will have to endure what our neighborhood has had to endure.

So why is the town continuing to waste money suing if he has a permit now?

Good question. The permit is not worth the paper it's written on without permission from the town. The permit was accompanied with a letter stating this

The question is why did the dem issue a permit knowing fully that the town was not giving permission. Although we all know the answer , the dem is having a hard time answering this question before them. In the meantime we are thankful for this legislation which will protect us all

The operation that Mr Pelletier operates there is small, and is being blown way out of proportion by the neighbors. Similar - VERY similar operations are being run throughout South Tiverton with no complaints. Mr Pelletier has done nothing but operate his business in a responsible manner, and he gets nothing but grief from a few cranky residents. Throughout the years Mr. Pelletier has donated his time, and materials to a variety of town facilities such as the school dept, little league, and many others. He came to the rescue of a man that was stuck in the mud on a horse in weetamoo woods a few years ago when the fire dept didn't have the necessary equipment to rescue them. The list goes on and on. He has been a great resident that has given back to the community for years. Please enlighten me as to what these complainers have done for the town.

I would not use that word. The town expects the dem to abide by the law

There you go again George, separating the 'Swamp Yankees' from the 'Newcomers' like that really makes a difference. I guess that means, George, you could go back where you came from, as well, Little Compton!

Mr. Nolan....not small when 15 trucks per day are in and out during the 'landscaping season'. Why do you suppose Pelletier is so thoughtful to his neighbors, town officials, and others, Mr. Nolan. Maybe because he is 'sucking up' to get town jobs, perhaps? The complainers, Mr. Nolan, like Mr. Pelletier, have paid their property taxes, which go to the Town for the betterment of its citizenry.

You live on a state highway. Regardless of the traffic on Mr. Pelletiers site ( It does not average anywhere near 15 trucks a day) You still have trucks and cars driving by your homes all day long. Are you going to try and ban them too? Like I said - there are several other very similar businesses operating in the area, why aren't you up in arms over them?
My wish is that Mr. Pelletier develops this land as low income housing. I wonder what your opinion will be if that happens.

The towns policy is that they do not issue violations. Unless there is a written complaint. Mr Pelletier did report in writing about all those businesses and they all received cease and desists

Regarding the trucks, mr Flanagan Underestimated. It is more than double that but the fact remains that the zoning unfortunately does not allow a compost facility in a r80 residential neighborhood

As parents we all hear our children complain that

Someone else is doing something that they are not allowed to do and we must tell them about rules and regulations

Breaking a law does not free anyone up just because someone else is breaking the law but has not been caught

Section 8 housing is something that we have heard rumblings about but it also is not allowed within that zoning

I agree that we all must follow the law.
But consider this.
There was always the option of all of you to just "live with it" I know you never though of that because you like to complain. I live next to a farm, and near someone that works on race cars. It can be a little noisy sometimes, but nothing that bad, and never past sunset. I don't complain because they are good people, and it doesn't bother me. I consider myself lucky to have these people now as friends. You could have done the same thing. That land isn't used very much most of the year, and not during the evening.
I know it is your right to protest Mr. Pelletiers position. I accept that. It is also his right to move on too. Your future scenario could be the following:
Low income housing. Lights on late into the night. Noise. Traffic.
This will be acceptable under the law that ou speak of.
Quite a trade.
Be careful what you wish for.

With all due respect, could you show me that law? I feel as though I have read and am well versed on all the laws pertaining to the situation, I am not familiar with the law that you are referring to.

The zoning is an r80 neighborhood; the law is very specific as to what is allowed and what is not allowed. The Town is attempting to restore its' zoning.

What the neighbors wish for is simple their right to quiet enjoyment. Perhaps that right is not important to others; but for these neighbors, it is very very important.

Sone of the neighbors grew up on farms and have tremendous respect for farms and the farming community in general. However, this is not a farm, far from it... this is a compost facility with numerous environmental concerns

I didn't speak of a law - you did. I just said all your new neighbors will have rights under the law too, and you might have plenty of them in the future.
Enjoy the bucolic peace now. It could soon be gone.
Nothing like a nice platt of houses to enhance natures beauty. Just look at the new development on Bulgermarsh. Who needed all those trees anyway?
The irony is that it will probably get named something like "Tigerlily estates"

I'm referring to the law regarding low income housing that you state is accepted. I am not aware of a law that allows low income housing on that property

Tigerlilly Estates sounds like a lovely address; and I am sure it would be. Unfortunately, it cannot happen at 0 Crandall Road... it is just about all wetland. I could picture a beautiful front entrance to a neighborhood with tiger lillies; there isn't one that I know of in Tiverton... it really does sound nice and maybe that will happen somewhere in town, I hope so.

You are absolutley wrong. As you obviously are aware, there are houses to either side. Only some of the land far back is wetland. The building Permits would easily pass for houses there.

I don't pretend to know any of the specifics of the particular property here, but here is my issue. I had a neighbor who built a large shed that blocked our view and was not in compliance with necessary setback requirements. The town told him it needed to be moved, he didn't. They basically told me there was nothing else they could do. Look at the poor family over on Fish Rd. that have been living next to a huge neon-colored garage when that guy's zoning variance was denied.

There are all types of zoning infractions ALL over Tiverton, yet this particular one has the full backing of the town and town's attorney, using tons of TAXPAYER money to defend. What I want to know is why? Especially in a case where the DEM ultimately gave the guy a permit anyway. Why is this case so special, who knows the right people?

I love the " many of us grew up on farms" mentality, but "compost" is not a farm. Your right it's not. I like oldandtireds idea - a chicken or turkey farm - better yet a pig farm. I suppose that it would too be illegal. So the view here is that he can't do anything over there isn't it?
This forum will not solve this issue.
I support Mr. Pelletier. I hope he wins this battle. If he loses, I hope he puts up the most revolting building(s) or finds the most despicable but legal use for HIS land possible.
That should make everyone very happy.
Go Tiger.

This forum will not solve this problem; you're right. That is what the legal system is for. I hope that he is able to use his land legally as well. That is why we have zoning; thank God we do.

I have a similar situation to Ms. Moniz's. Loud cars and trucks are constantly driving by at all hours of the day and night. Gee, I wish I could do something about it. The problem is, the cars and trucks are driving on a ROAD that's thirty feet from the front of my house on my postage-stamp sized lot.

Instead of complaining, driving up our taxes, and running an honest businessman into debt, why don't you simply enjoy the blessings of your big chunk of property and your lovely home. Live and let live my mother always used to say.

The neighbors don't feel the same as you do; however, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. Your neighborhood may be zoned differently from ours. Ours, again, is an R80 neighborhood. That is what we bought into; that is what we pay our taxes for.

What needs to happen here is an enforcement office that enforces its' zoning and honesty within the government. Attempts to change the zoning is a dishonest way of operating. Zoning needs to be enforced not selectively but honestly. That will happen, I'm sure, with our new town council. It just may take a while, unfortunately.

So, your neighbors don't agree that they should simply enjoy their blessings and leave others in peace?

Once again, Mr. Nolan, if that’s his name, is blind to the facts. Joanne Moniz has explained the situation in a thoughtful and fact-filled manner. Yet, Nolan, you are blind to what is right and what is wrong. You say why not for others on Crandall Road? That’s because we complained which is our right in this Town, under its bylaws. “Do you not condone bad behavior in your neighborhood then look the other way to condone it somewhere else in Town? You need to ‘grow up’, Mr. Nolan!

Or what, you'll sue him?

enough said; have a nice weekend gentlemen

Ms. Moniz says "Attempts to change the zoning is a dishonest way of operating. Zoning needs to be enforced not selectively but honestly. That will happen, I'm sure, with our new town council."

Ahhh...and there gentlemen is the connection. Exaclty the same commetns from the Tiverton Four Corners crowd - which had this Council "take care" of the zoning for them.

Nice weekend indeed knowing that town officials will take care of your pet projects for you with our taxpayer dollars.

How is upholding the zoning that all of us must follow a "pet project"?

The problem is not the zoning itself; it is that it is not always enforced. It is not consistent. According to these posts, people feel as though there is special treatment. There is no special treatment in this case, in fact just the opposite. The neighbors here were told that it was too bad, that the zoning did not have to be enforced. It was not until the neighbors read the law themselves and proved them wrong, that they had to enforce their zoning.

Most people do not have the funds or the time to fight for what is right, and that is what the town banks on.
There are statues of limitations, it anyone feels they have a justified complaint and they feel that it is too late, it may not be at all.

Is it my understanding that the activity that was going on at this location is permitted in this Zone R80 ? The problem is that it is not in conjunction with a working farm ? Is that correct ?

no; it became a nursery in 2008, well after the violation. But under nursery it did not protect the non-farming activities (landscaping, excavation and composting) The DEM confirmed the facts to the town and the property was cited by the DEM and the town. What has been done after that is being investigated and questioned by the town.
To qualify for a composting facility operation, there were 2 options, one was not granted; the other
required 4 steps, the land must be an agricultural unit (5 usable acres) the operator must be a farmer( 4 years of tax returns verifying $10,000 income and there are inspections showing limited to no farming income) the operator must submit a COMPLETE application in order to obtain a composting facility permit for that land only.

What has transpired since is that the composting facility began without local zoning approval.

All of this is public record through the town and the DEM

Joe Sousa, thanks for coming online and your comments. It’s great to see someone other than 'the others' with a little more intelligence wanting to comment on this issue. You know the old saying, 'a story starts at one end and at the other end is 180 degrees out of phase from its original'. Joanne Moniz is correct in what she says relating to the facts of this case.

Joe thanks for coming on board and asking a question that has been misconstrued by others.