Ligonier Township planning board recommends allowing mid-May opening for Country Market

The Ligonier Township Planning Commission is recommending that township supervisors modify a conditional-use permit, which would allow the popular Ligonier Country Market to open as planned May 17.

The supervisors will hear testimony on the matter at a formal hearing set for 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The planning board unanimously agreed Thursday to recommend granting the market’s request after hearing from several vendors at the Ligonier Township market and from business owners in nearby downtown Ligonier Borough. Both said the May 17 date is crucial for their operations and good for the community.

“We’re looking for a way to get this thing settled because there’s no question that the market is a very positive influence in our community,” said Barb Nalle, who chairs the planning commission.

Market director Kelly Svesnik told the panel the annual seasonal market has opened in mid-May for at least the past decade.

That’s technically been in violation of a permit granted for the event in 2008 — which indicates the market can’t open before Memorial Day, which this year is May 26.

After a former vendor who was ousted by a change in market policy recently brought the 2008 language to the attention of township officials, the supervisors voted March 25 to uphold the permit’s Memorial Day clause.

The market then filed a request to revise the permit conditions to allow its operations to begin 20 weeks before the last weekend in September.

The market is held 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays at the Loyalhanna Watershed Association field just west of the borough. The market has planned on opening May 17 for its 50th season — a date it has announced on its website.

“The market builds community,” said Brenda Shaffer, owner of My Honeybee gift shop on West Main Street in the borough. “It helps our business grow; it helps us keep our lights on and our doors open.”

Shaffer noted the market is within walking distance of the downtown Ligonier business district.

She said her sales and foot traffic at her store increase between 25% and 30% on market Saturdays compared with Saturdays when the market is out of season.

“We need the market to start in the middle of May,” Shaffer said. “Saying it might not start for a couple of weeks later, that doesn’t sound like a big deal. But this year has been tough for small businesses.”

Svesnik said many visitors are particularly drawn to the market for the season opener and on the Saturday before Memorial Day.

“That’s two big weekends that would impact our vendors,” she said.

Vendor Patrick Okert of Derry Township’s Broken Locust Farm said the mid-May start date is essential for selling plants he grows for the event, including tomato and pepper plants.

“The week starting before Memorial Day, everybody is buying their plants and getting ready for the unofficial start of garden season,” Okert said. “You have a very short window to sell plants. Once that window’s gone, once people have their gardens planted, it’s over. You’re throwing them in the compost pile.”

Andrew Williams of People’s Farm in Ligonier Township sells spring crops, including radishes and greens, at the market.

“Early season crops really help the farmers,” he said. “You have all your early season expenses, and you’re waiting for your first paycheck in May. The earlier, the better.”

No one spoke against the market’s permit change at the planning commission meeting.

Local attorney Mark Sorice, who is representing the market, expressed hope the supervisors will approve the permit change.

“We’re trying to comply with the (permit) conditions,” he said. “We’re not trying to run afoul of any of the conditions.”

He noted the market has an agreement with the Ligonier Valley Police Department to provide traffic control during the market times, including if it opens in mid-May.

Township Solicitor Dan Hudock said the supervisors will have 45 days after Tuesday’s hearing to issue a written statement of their decision on the market permit, but he indicated they might come to a verbal decision before then.

“We’re trying to accommodate (the market),” he said.