Sweet Berry Farm has withdrawn its application for a major development project at its Mitchell’s Lane property and is stepping back to consider a smaller-scale plan, the farm and the Aquidneck Island Land Trust said this week.
The farm announced the decision in a statement posted to Facebook on Tuesday, telling supporters it had chosen to pull its submission after weighing the existing proposal and a range of feedback.
“After careful consideration of the existing proposal and a wide variety of feedback, we have decided to withdraw our submission,” the farm said. It added that its guiding principle throughout the process had been to find a path that sustains the farm’s long-term viability, and that maintaining its future requires addressing critical infrastructure needs supporting current and future operations.
The farm said it would evaluate alternative approaches, including a smaller-scale plan, and described the pause as an opportunity to develop a proposal that better balances the farm’s needs with community concerns. It also thanked its team of nearly 75 employees and its customers for their engagement and feedback.
The Aquidneck Island Land Trust, which holds conservation easements on the farm, confirmed the withdrawal in a statement Wednesday and said the owners are considering a revised plan for future Land Trust review and Planning Board submission.
The Land Trust said it had been in discussions with the landowner focused on enforcing the terms of the easement, particularly a requirement that additional structures be used primarily for agricultural purposes. The talks centered on ensuring any proposal is consistent with both the easement and Middletown’s zoning ordinance governing non-agricultural events.
“We believe Sweet Berry Farm’s decision to withdraw its proposal is in the best interests of the farm, the public, and the Land Trust,” said Terry Sullivan, executive director of the Land Trust. “Moving forward it’s essential for the Land Trust to have a clear understanding of the intended intensity of non-agricultural events on the property. Any revised proposal should have greater clarity regarding such events. We look forward to continuing our discussions with the farm to ensure that any future proposals comply with the conservation easement on the property.”
The withdrawn application, filed under SB Farm LLC, sought master plan approval for a 13,862-square-foot complex including a relocated farmstand, café and a barn at 913 Mitchell’s Lane. The plans had drawn scrutiny from neighbors and conservation advocates, who raised concerns about a proposed 200-person wedding venue and its potential effects on traffic, noise, light pollution, groundwater and the rural character of the Land Trust area between the Maidford River and Paradise Brook watersheds.
The project came less than a year after Sweet Berry Farm changed hands. Jan and Michelle Eckhart, who founded the farm in 1980 and built it into one of Aquidneck Island’s best-known agricultural landmarks, announced in April 2025 that they were transferring ownership to a new team while remaining involved in daily operations.
