Farmer to keep farming in Farmers Branch
FARMERS BRANCH, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – Farmers Branch has erased a list of land limitations a farmer pushed back against for more than a year.
The city removed or adjusted restrictions last month on crops, height limits, hay bales and perimeter mowing, following a long campaign from business owner James Lockridge, who argued the city rules for property maintenance violated state protections for agriculture.
The changes should allow Lockridge to resume his work this spring, mowing tall grass on undeveloped property, which he uses to feed livestock. Meanwhile the work allows landowners to maintain agricultural tax exemptions on the undeveloped parcels.
"It wasn't just a battle for James, it was a battle for everybody in the state of Texas," Lockridge said.
His long dispute included driving his tractor to Austin in 2021 to get the attention of lawmakers. It worked, attracting legislative support which he believes should lead to a bill this year for additional protections for agriculture. He said he is still fighting rules, including citations, in seven other North Texas cities.
City manger Ben Williamson, who was appointed in November, explained that the ordinance changes over the last several month simply followed a new conversation with Lockridge, after it was clear he was looking for more relief from the city's rules.
Williamson said he'd promised the city council that if someone in the city had concerns, his door was open to talk about them.
While the council agreed unanimously to the latest change, the city's interim mayor voiced concern in a meeting in December that overgrown properties could be a health hazard, hiding trash and rodents, in between land built up with homes and businesses.