Coopersburg Zoning Board Approves Variance for Farmer’s Market

Supporters of the Coopersburg Farmer’s Market turned out for the April 21 Zoning Hearing Board meeting, and they weren’t disappointed. With a 3-0 vote, the Zoning Board approved the special exception for the Coopersburg Farmer’s Market. The market, which will be held Thursdays at 21 N. Main St. in the parking lot of the Village Shopping Center, wanted to accommodate more vendors for the upcoming season.

"We're happy the zoning board approved the coopersburg farmer’s market variance," said president Mark McCormick. "we look forward to seeing vendors come out [to the market]."

“We’ve established the Coopersburg Farmer’s Market to benefit the downtown Coopersburg community,” said market founder Wendy Sinko. Sinko, who applied for the variance, owns , a small market in the shopping center. “We’d like to give people a meeting place once a week where they can stop for fresh produce on their way home.”

Food won’t be the only item at the market. Additional spaces will be reserved for community organizations on a rotating basis to promote their organizations. According to Sinko, the market has several interested organizations.

“We’ve gotten very enthusiastic responses from the fire department, the , Betty Lou’s Pantry, , , and senior center, and Sowing Seeds, [an organization that promotes young farmers].”

Local business owners agreed that the market would have a positive impact on downtown Coopersburg.

“I look forward to the foot traffic that will be coming my way on Main St.,” said Cari Poole, owner of in Coopersburg. “It’s a great way to show [the businesses] here and that we have something really great in Coopersburg.”

Local resident Hilary Smith, who works in the health care industry, stressed what access to fresh food will mean to the community. “That access is invaluable,” said Smith.

The zoning hearing board noted that while the vote was unanimous, the market would have to follow set guidelines to keep the special exception. The guidelines include restricting the hours to 3:30 pm to 7pm; cleaning up the area immediately after the market concludes and disposing of the trash properly; signage won’t block drivers views of the roads; and that signage all has to follow the Coopersburg ordinance.

The market is set to open June 2, in conjunction with the annual 5K run.