In the verdant suburb of Barrington Hills, the fate of the Little Ducky Flower Farm remains as tenuous as the 20,000 tulips that stand, unharvested. Owners Chris Yamamoto and his wife, Sara Gul, are grappling with a zoning dispute that has sparked a community debate and highlighted the tension between agricultural traditions and residential codes. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the farm operated hassle-free for two years until an anonymous complaint led to a cease-and-desist letter from the village in May 2024, citing violations of zoning codes that prohibit businesses on residential property.
Despite widespread community backing, with 129 out of 133 written comments and the majority of public testimonies siding with the farm, Yamamoto's multiple proposals to amend the zoning rules have been denied, as officials worry about setting precedents that could lead to similar commercial ventures across residential lots. "We're essentially kind of stuck," Yamamoto confessed to the Sun-Times, his efforts at securing a compromise thus far fruitless, despite his belief that the operation aligns with the village's values, and it's just about community for us, we want to build community, Yamamoto said.
Municipal representatives have consistently pushed back, with the village’s director of administration, Anna Paul, stating the farm and the proposals are not compatible with the intended residential use of property in the village's residential area. This sentiment was reiterated to NBC Chicago, highlighting the potential for far-reaching implications should the farm be allowed to continue as-is.
Living on the farm and maintaining full-time careers outside of agriculture, Yamamoto and Gul have sought to share their passion for the land and local history by offering a firsthand farming experience that distinguishes Barrington Hills. "They advertise agriculture heritage and equestrian history here. There’s plenty of horse farms, other people that raise livestock, other people that grow vegetables. It really is an agriculture community here," Yamamoto told NBC Chicago.
As the legal tussles continue, the couple seeks alternative ways to engage with their supporters. They are actively delivering tulip bouquets within the neighborhood and considering setting up temporary pop-up locations in the coming summer to circumvent the impasse.
