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Residents push Palm Bay to shield Happiness Horse Farm from fees, city agrees to explore options
Summary
After two hours of public comment, council members asked the city attorney and staff to explore stormwater credits and a narrow ordinance for agricultural driveway exemptions to address the needs of Happiness Horse Farm and similar small farms.
Hundreds of residents and volunteers turned out to the council meeting to urge the City of Palm Bay to soften fees and enforcement actions they said threaten the survival of Happiness Horse Farm (also called Will’s Way), a nonprofit animal sanctuary and educational farm.
Why it matters: Farm volunteers, teachers and children described the sanctuary as a community education resource that hosts field trips, 4‑H clubs and volunteer hours. Speakers said recent code enforcement notices and a stormwater fee assessment have left the nonprofit facing what they called disproportionate expenses and a possible loss of access to the property.
What residents said: Emily Torlack, who identifies herself as a co‑founder and operator of Happiness Horse Farm, told council she has funded most of the operation out of pocket and described a threatened code enforcement action over a driveway installed decades ago. “We are being threatened by excessive stormwater fees…
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