Maple yogurt

Whenever I see reps from Doe Run Farm sitting in the audience at a West Marlborough Township meeting, I know it's going to be an interesting evening.
On Aug. 2 three men representing the farm's owner, billionaire Urban Outfitters founder Richard Hayne, were there to explain why he wants conditional use permission for the cheese-making facility and greenhouses at the large Springdell farm. The conditional uses, they said, would allow him to wholesale the cheese (which he, ahem, already does) and to make and sell tomato products.
What concerns neighbors and township officials is that previously Mr. Hayne's reps had said the cheese would be made for his personal use only, and the greenhouses were there only so the Haynes could putter with orchids and vegetables in their retirement years. But then, without permission from the township, the excess "for personal use only" cheese started going on sale at Terrain, the upscale Urban Outfitters shop in Concordville.
Adding to the local discomfort level is the fact that Mr. Hayne has never appeared at any township meeting, so township officials have had to rely solely on statements from an array of lawyers and other reps about his intentions.
"We're leery," summarized Josh Taylor, who chairs the township planning commission.
Mr. Hayne's reps said if the conditional uses were approved, residents would see no change in the farm's operations, which would remain "non-intensive" and "not a label like Paul Newman." But skeptical neighbors peppered them with questions about how big the operation could get and still constitute a "non-intensive" use.
One rep said he would agree to stipulations that there would not be any retail use or restaurant allowed on the property. And in a quirky aside, he informed the audience that Mr. Hayne eats the maple-flavored yogurt made at the creamery every day.
The conditional use hearing will be at 7 p.m. Aug. 25.