Preserve the Safety of Faith Hill Farm Amidst the Proposed Ridgeline Estates Construction
The Issue
UPDATE 8/10/26:
To our Faith Hill Farm community,
We wanted to share a brief update on our legal challenge regarding the approval of the Ridgeline Estates development.
Our lawsuit remains pending, and we are currently awaiting a decision, which we expect to receive sometime this August.
Faith Hill Farm and Faith Hill Farm Foundation has been a proud member of the East Greenwich community for many years, providing essential equine-assisted services to some of our region's most vulnerable individuals and families. Throughout this process, our commitment to our clients, horses, staff, and mission has never wavered. Despite the significant financial and operational challenges this legal battle has created, we remain dedicated to serving our community every day.
Our legal challenge stems from the approval of a major residential development immediately adjacent to our farm. The impacts of extensive site work - including clear-cutting, rock blasting, heavy construction, and ongoing activity just feet from our barns and therapy spaces - will fundamentally affect our Foundation's ability to safely provide therapeutic services and operate our small family-run farm. This case represents a broader effort to preserve open space, protect agricultural land, and safeguard the unique rural character of East Greenwich.
We are deeply grateful for the incredible outpouring of encouragement, advocacy, and support we have received. Your kindness has sustained us during this difficult journey and reminds us how much this farm means to so many people.
As we await the court's decision, legal expenses continue to place a significant strain on our organization. If you would like to support our efforts to protect Faith Hill Farm / Faith Hill Farm Foundation and ensure we can continue serving our community, please consider making a donation to our GoFundMe campaign. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us continue this important work.
No matter the outcome, our commitment remains unchanged. We will continue to advocate for the people, horses, non-profit partners and community that make Faith Hill Farm so special, and we will remain steadfast in our Foundation's mission to provide hope, healing, and opportunity through the human-horse connection.
Thank you for standing with Faith Hill Farm. We will continue to share updates as they become available.
With gratitude,
Pamela Steere Maloof
The Faith Hill Farm Family
UPDATE 8/14/2025:
Dear FHF Community Member -
As many of you know, we have begun a lengthy appeal process to overturn the decision to approve Ridgeline Estates and keep our farm and the animals and people who call Faith Hill Farm home safe.
During Ridgeline Estates clear cutting of the multiple acres of adjacent land, staff and horses were injured. Farm has suffered financial losses. A result that was forecasted being adjacent to a working farm.
As part of this process, the case will go back to the planning board on technical remand Wednesday 8/20 at 7pm in the Town Hall Council Chambers, 125 Main St, East Greenwich, RI. Please consider attending the meeting to support FHF as the town planning board reviews the case. This is a public hearing but not open for public comment. It is Pam's wish that our community understands the value of showing up and holding signs. The Planning Board can not overlook the impact and sentiment of a giant show of support.
Can't make it on the 20th and wondering how you can help? A dear friend of FHF has recently created a Go Fund Me. All donations will support our growing legal fees. As a small, family business our resources are extremely limited. Please consider a donation to our cause. Every dollar counts! THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE ALREADY DONATED!! Your support means the world to us.
The link can be found here:
Thank you for all of your support!!!!
UPDATE 6/2/2025:
We wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for the outpouring of support during this uncertain time considering the condominium development project next door. The letters, phone calls, shifting lesson times, text messages, showing up at planning board meetings and everything in between has meant more than you can imagine. Again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the ways in which you have shown support of our farm and all of our programs.
We have begun a lengthy legal battle to overturn the decision to approve Ridgeline Estates and keep our farm and the animals and people who call Faith Hill Farm home safe.
Many of you have asked how you can help. A dear friend of FHF has recently created a Go Fund Me. Link is included below. All donations will support our growing legal fees. As a small, family business our resources are extremely limited. Please consider a donation to our cause. Every dollar counts!
UPDATE: The Planning Board Meeting is Weds, 3/19 at 7pm.
Town Council Chambers, 125 Main Street, East Greenwich, RI 02818
This petition serves to preserve and maintain SAFE business operations for Faith Hill Farm amidst the development of the proposed Ridgeline Estates neighborhood. Many East Greenwich residents, horse owners, clients and families have come to value Faith Hill Farm for it's boarding and riding program, and crucially, the vulnerable clients served by our Equine Psychotherapy and learning programs provided by the FHF Foundation.
Our greatest hope is that this project will not be approved. However, should the development be approved without stringent conditions and accommodations it threatens to jeopardize the welfare and safety of our staff, clients, horses and the tranquility our farm provides for the most vulnerable of Rhode Island residents. Harmfully, the proposed construction project of neighboring Ridgeline Estates stands to PUT HUMAN LIVES AT RISK as staff and clients care for and handle 1,000 pound flight animals who by nature react to unexpected noise, vibrations and activity. This includes but is not limited to the scope of development works such as demolition, excavation, and blasting of the vast rock and boulder landscape.
Without a prefrontal cortex, the equine brain instantly sends signals to the motor control area with the command to run when faced with unexpected sound or movement. As flight animals, this brain function and physical response is involuntary to horses. Furthermore, as herd animals, one equines immediate reaction to unexpected noise will often create a domino effect. Thus exposing staff and clients, property and the horses themselves to a great deal danger. Examples of fight or flight instincts which puts human wellbeing at risk: bolting, dragging, fall, flip, stuck over/in doors, walls, gates, etc.
The proposed construction project, if approved without specific conditions and accommodations such as operating hours, sound barriers, no-cut zones and fluid work schedules stands jeopardize not only the survival of this long standing East Greenwich institution, business and safe space but the SAFTEY and wellbeing of farm staff, horse owners, clients and horses.
Every signature can make a difference. Please consider signing this petition today.
4,377
The Issue
UPDATE 8/10/26:
To our Faith Hill Farm community,
We wanted to share a brief update on our legal challenge regarding the approval of the Ridgeline Estates development.
Our lawsuit remains pending, and we are currently awaiting a decision, which we expect to receive sometime this August.
Faith Hill Farm and Faith Hill Farm Foundation has been a proud member of the East Greenwich community for many years, providing essential equine-assisted services to some of our region's most vulnerable individuals and families. Throughout this process, our commitment to our clients, horses, staff, and mission has never wavered. Despite the significant financial and operational challenges this legal battle has created, we remain dedicated to serving our community every day.
Our legal challenge stems from the approval of a major residential development immediately adjacent to our farm. The impacts of extensive site work - including clear-cutting, rock blasting, heavy construction, and ongoing activity just feet from our barns and therapy spaces - will fundamentally affect our Foundation's ability to safely provide therapeutic services and operate our small family-run farm. This case represents a broader effort to preserve open space, protect agricultural land, and safeguard the unique rural character of East Greenwich.
We are deeply grateful for the incredible outpouring of encouragement, advocacy, and support we have received. Your kindness has sustained us during this difficult journey and reminds us how much this farm means to so many people.
As we await the court's decision, legal expenses continue to place a significant strain on our organization. If you would like to support our efforts to protect Faith Hill Farm / Faith Hill Farm Foundation and ensure we can continue serving our community, please consider making a donation to our GoFundMe campaign. Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us continue this important work.
No matter the outcome, our commitment remains unchanged. We will continue to advocate for the people, horses, non-profit partners and community that make Faith Hill Farm so special, and we will remain steadfast in our Foundation's mission to provide hope, healing, and opportunity through the human-horse connection.
Thank you for standing with Faith Hill Farm. We will continue to share updates as they become available.
With gratitude,
Pamela Steere Maloof
The Faith Hill Farm Family
UPDATE 8/14/2025:
Dear FHF Community Member -
As many of you know, we have begun a lengthy appeal process to overturn the decision to approve Ridgeline Estates and keep our farm and the animals and people who call Faith Hill Farm home safe.
During Ridgeline Estates clear cutting of the multiple acres of adjacent land, staff and horses were injured. Farm has suffered financial losses. A result that was forecasted being adjacent to a working farm.
As part of this process, the case will go back to the planning board on technical remand Wednesday 8/20 at 7pm in the Town Hall Council Chambers, 125 Main St, East Greenwich, RI. Please consider attending the meeting to support FHF as the town planning board reviews the case. This is a public hearing but not open for public comment. It is Pam's wish that our community understands the value of showing up and holding signs. The Planning Board can not overlook the impact and sentiment of a giant show of support.
Can't make it on the 20th and wondering how you can help? A dear friend of FHF has recently created a Go Fund Me. All donations will support our growing legal fees. As a small, family business our resources are extremely limited. Please consider a donation to our cause. Every dollar counts! THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE ALREADY DONATED!! Your support means the world to us.
The link can be found here:
Thank you for all of your support!!!!
UPDATE 6/2/2025:
We wanted to take a moment to thank everyone for the outpouring of support during this uncertain time considering the condominium development project next door. The letters, phone calls, shifting lesson times, text messages, showing up at planning board meetings and everything in between has meant more than you can imagine. Again, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for all the ways in which you have shown support of our farm and all of our programs.
We have begun a lengthy legal battle to overturn the decision to approve Ridgeline Estates and keep our farm and the animals and people who call Faith Hill Farm home safe.
Many of you have asked how you can help. A dear friend of FHF has recently created a Go Fund Me. Link is included below. All donations will support our growing legal fees. As a small, family business our resources are extremely limited. Please consider a donation to our cause. Every dollar counts!
UPDATE: The Planning Board Meeting is Weds, 3/19 at 7pm.
Town Council Chambers, 125 Main Street, East Greenwich, RI 02818
This petition serves to preserve and maintain SAFE business operations for Faith Hill Farm amidst the development of the proposed Ridgeline Estates neighborhood. Many East Greenwich residents, horse owners, clients and families have come to value Faith Hill Farm for it's boarding and riding program, and crucially, the vulnerable clients served by our Equine Psychotherapy and learning programs provided by the FHF Foundation.
Our greatest hope is that this project will not be approved. However, should the development be approved without stringent conditions and accommodations it threatens to jeopardize the welfare and safety of our staff, clients, horses and the tranquility our farm provides for the most vulnerable of Rhode Island residents. Harmfully, the proposed construction project of neighboring Ridgeline Estates stands to PUT HUMAN LIVES AT RISK as staff and clients care for and handle 1,000 pound flight animals who by nature react to unexpected noise, vibrations and activity. This includes but is not limited to the scope of development works such as demolition, excavation, and blasting of the vast rock and boulder landscape.
Without a prefrontal cortex, the equine brain instantly sends signals to the motor control area with the command to run when faced with unexpected sound or movement. As flight animals, this brain function and physical response is involuntary to horses. Furthermore, as herd animals, one equines immediate reaction to unexpected noise will often create a domino effect. Thus exposing staff and clients, property and the horses themselves to a great deal danger. Examples of fight or flight instincts which puts human wellbeing at risk: bolting, dragging, fall, flip, stuck over/in doors, walls, gates, etc.
The proposed construction project, if approved without specific conditions and accommodations such as operating hours, sound barriers, no-cut zones and fluid work schedules stands jeopardize not only the survival of this long standing East Greenwich institution, business and safe space but the SAFTEY and wellbeing of farm staff, horse owners, clients and horses.
Every signature can make a difference. Please consider signing this petition today.
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Petition created on January 31, 2025