Talk It Out: Fenced-In Flea Market on Ritchie Highway

One of the more popular stories on Severna Park Patch last week was a photo gallery of a controversial fenced-in property alongside Ritchie Highway.

The site is often used to sell flowers and Christmas trees, but right now it is not being operated and instead is used to house used furniture. In January, the property's owner Donna Marsh was issued a citation for operating a flea market on the land in violation of county zoning laws.

On Facebook, commenters seemed to be of the same mind, saying the property owner should pack up, or clean the site up.

Ellen McCourt Scarano: "I doubt the quality of the furniture is very good. I'd prefer the flower stand. It's my prettiest memory of my first days living in this area."

Cathy Benjamin Pette: "This is absolutely ridiculous! Even when it was selling flowers and/or whatever...it has always looked unkept and trashy."

Dawn Arthur Ringenbach: "It looks like hell and has no place on the side of a major road."

But in the story comments on Patch, the former flea market saw some support in addition to the naysayers.

Just A. Thought: "Leave her alone. She's only trying to make a living :-/"

Alicia Zamorano: "get rid of her because her business is newer? Really. Underarmour should just fold up and quit since Nike has been around for years. Competition=capitalism."

Noreen Dalisera: "Personally, I like that the seasonal sales of seasonal nursery plants, pumpkins, Christmas trees is perfect for the plot of land. The junk sale stuff and fence need to go away, really looks awful."