Zoning officials walked the grounds of a Wilton property Thursday, April 2, as part of a special exception request that would allow the owners to operate an educational farm.
Faby Gagne and Luc Sirois of 325 Burton Highway are seeking a special exception for a home occupation to operate the farm, which would provide fiber arts workshops and use of a horse dressage arena.
They are beginner farmers receiving local mentorship from Rick Hardy of Brookdale Fruit Farms in Hollis.
According to Gagne, she does not own horses and would not purchase any.
Sirois added he wants to start a lavender farm and a Christmas tree farm where customers cut their own trees. The lavender farm would occupy a cleared quarter-acre section, while the Christmas tree farm would use less than a half-acre cleared plot.
Because the project would increase traffic flow on their road, Gagne and Sirois said their goal is to carry out their plans while retaining the road’s privacy and solitude.
The application calls for one workshop per month, with up to 15 participants and no more than four riders at a time for private practice in the dressage arena. Gagne said she’d like to raise goats as well.
“None of the activities will be overnight or require bedding,” Sirois said.
Residents abutting the property raised concerns at the meeting.
Kenton Blagbrough of 293 Burton Highway, whose property abuts the proposed farm, raised concerns about water quality impact.
Blagbrough said his property has a well easement near the dressage arena as well as a 200-foot New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services protected wetland corridor. He does not want animals or waste near his well.
He also noted how water runoff from the horse dressage arena flows downhill to a watershed leading to Mill Brook.
Resident Jennifer Beck noted Mill Brook is the alternative water source for Wilton residents using wells.
“If there’s a year where our wells dry up, our only option is Mill Brook,” she said. “The main concern is E. coli poisoning if animal waste from the runoff contaminates the brook.”
Abutter Dave Wright of 323 Burton Highway said he shares a driveway with the applicants. He was concerned about the driveway’s deteriorating condition and how increased traffic will impact it.
Wright requested the driveway undergo a traffic impact study and that Gagne and Sirois provide ZBA a formal site plan review.
At the meeting, ZBA Chair Neil Faiman said because the goats, Christmas tree and lavender farms are agricultural and general farming activities, a special exception isn’t necessary, but said the board would look further into the matter concerning wetlands and the driveway.
At a March 10 ZBA meeting, Gagne said she and Sirois purchased the property in December 2025 for the peace a rural setting provides.