At Wallace Farms in Northeast Mecklenburg County Real Estate, compost is decomposing near the Highland Creek University City Homes for Sale neighborhood  the & homeowners are not happy.  Highland Creek residents are arguing with state officials about the odor.  Highland Creek is just minutes north of the downtown Charlotte real estate market area.  The owners of Wallace Farms are appealing an $11,501.00 state levied fine after inspectors ruled that odors coming from the farm are polluting the air.  Wallace Farms is also opposed being annexed by the City of Charlotte.  The proposed annexation includes Wallace Farms and 15,000 residents of Charlotte, North Carolina Real Estate owners. 

They are also contesting the results of an air inspection that took place on September 30, 2008 due to the fact that it was a surprise inspection and it was illegal, unconstitutional, and harassing.  The farm’s owners were invaded by five cars of police officers and inspectors along with environmental engineers who gathered air samples.  The owner’s asked the group of intruders to leave or they would be considered trespassers.  The group did not leave.  Instead, with police force,  stayed on the property for over six hours.  On the other hand, the city had tried for several months to get permission from farm owner’s unsuccessfully to perform the tests.  Besides, inspectors insist that they do not have to notify anyone of tests.  This appears to have been a constitutional and lawful search for legitimate purposes. 

For many year homeowners in the Wallace Farms Charlotte Homes area have complained about the odors coming from the solid waste composting facility.  The farm composts more than 90,000 tons of waste per year including wood, manure, and produce.  Eric Wallace has been quoted as saying that “the farm has spent over $500,000.00 since 1994 to lessen the odor.”  However, in recent months, the contest has gotten more and more heated.  The lawyers for Wallace Farms contend that the Eastfield Road area is agricultural by North Carolina Law.  Thus, municipalities can’t touch them as for an annexation.  The city’s zoning board ruled in 2006 that the Wallace Farms property was a legally non-conforming use under city of Charlotte zoning.  Therefore Wallace Farms has a vested right to be an agricultural operation. 

On the other hand, the residents in the Eastfield are contending that Wallace Farms doesn’t qualify as a farm because according to tax records it is not classified as a farm and that is the only thing that matters.  One resident made a statement to officials to the effect of, “Wallace Farms is already affecting our morale but, does it need to affect our health before permanent action is taken?” 

Wallace Farms has been composting since the 1960’s.  Therefore, the developers of the neighborhoods should take some of the blame for selling lots on the buffer areas instead of leaving them green areas.  Finally, if Wallace Farms loses their rights as a property owner then they should be justly compensated.  Will Wallace Farms be the next huge hosing development in the University area?