No Decision On Bridgewater Storage Facility, More Revisions Made To Farm Stand Plan

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A proposed self-storage facility is continuing to make revisions to its plans to preserve the long-standing family-run Melick's Farm Stand on Route 28.

Revisions

During the Bridgewater Township Zoning Board of Adjustment's Tuesday meeting and sixth hearing on the application Matthew Capizzi, attorney for Bridgewater Self Storage LLC, told the board the applicant revised its plan.

Capizzi said the revisions were made after public comment at the July 14 hearing focused heavily on the possible loss of the farm stand.

He said Bowler Engineering filed a revised plan sheet Sept. 3 to build on the long-vacant Tectonic building site while showing space retained along Route 28 for the farm stand.

The Sept. 3 amended application set aside space along Route 28 for the farm stand at a property that also includes frontage on Route 22.

However, "the farm stand operator would be responsible for rehabilitating the existing barn-style building now used for the stand, if needed, or providing another way to display produce, including canopy, pavilion, etc."

It also stated that the operator also would be responsible for "power, water and bathroom facilities, as necessary."

On Tuesday, Capizzi said the applicant is now offering additional commitments tied to the farm stand.

"The applicant will be responsible for maintaining the farm stand structure and roof," he said.

He also said, "The applicant will bring water, electric, and sewer to the farm stand building."

In addition, Capizzi said, "The applicant will construct a bathroom within the existing farm stand building," and "the applicant will maintain the gravel area."

He said the rental arrangement would continue with "slight increases to accommodate for inflation," and said the applicant was prepared to offer a 10-year lease with a 10-year option requested by the operator, identified in testimony as Rebecca Melick.

The revised plan does not change the self-storage building’s location, size or scale, Capizzi said.

Parking, lighting and the overall storage layout would remain the same, with only minor landscaping changes and possible detention basin adjustments needed to meet stormwater requirements.

The farm stand would stay in its current location.

Engineer testimony said the two-story farm stand totals 1,442 square feet, increasing the floor area ratio request from 45 percent to 46 percent.

Testimony also said the farm stand has an existing front yard setback of 78.6 feet from Route 28, where 100 feet is required.

The revision also adds variance requests because a farm stand is not a permitted use in the C-3 zone, according to Capizzi’s testimony.

He also said the applicant is seeking relief related to principal uses and structures on the lot.

Historic Home

Board discussion also touched on whether a nearby house on the property has historic status.

"Why aren't you keeping the house? It's historic in nature. It would make a wonderful place for Bridgewater to have a welcome center to the town. And for those of us who worry night and day about historic preservation in this community because it's very, very limited," said Board member Christine Henderson-Rose, who is also a founding member of the Friends of Bridgewater History.

Zoning Board Chairman John Kulak noted that historic preservation is not a zoning issue.

"We have zoning issues that we're addressing, and while the historic preservation is a cause that I think everybody embraces. This isn't an opportunity to do something we've been unable to do through the normal channels using our Township Council and additional seeking sources of support from the county. If we've failed at that, this is not the opportunity to ask this applicant to go above and beyond what they've already done to preserve something that the community wanted," said Kulak.

Capizzi addressed Rose's suggestion, stating, "It's something we're open to discussing."

"We're in the self-storage business. That's not to say that we are not interested in being neighborly. I think the stipulations this evening and the plans that we've submitted show that we're committed to being neighborly," said Capizzi.

The Board Attorney did note that if the board and the applicant were offering that the house as a historical building to stay on the site, "the board could condition it as a request to be made by the applicant to the governing body."

Township Planner Katherine Sarmad noted that the home had been reviewed in 1989 and "was determined to be not eligible for historic designation."

The board also heard testimony that landscaping near the farm stand entrance may be shifted to improve visibility from Route 28 while keeping a similar number of plantings elsewhere on the property.

Public Questions

Revised engineering and stormwater calculations are still expected to be submitted for review.

Bridgewater residents and employees of the Melick’s farm stand pressed an engineer and the applicant’s attorney over parking, landscaping and traffic.

During questioning of engineer Matthew Kunsman, much of the discussion focused on how parking around the stand would function under the updated layout.

Kunsman said the gravel area would remain the same overall size, though some of it would shift.

"The total area of the gravel is the same as in proposed conditions as existing total area," he said.

He also said he approximated 10 parking spaces based on township parking space sizes.

Several employees and nearby residents challenged whether the new arrangement would work the same way in practice.

One employee told the board that 13 cars can fit there now. Another asked whether staff parking would take away customer spaces.

Kunsman answered that the proposed arrangement would be similar to what exists today.

Residents also asked whether the revised farm stand plan should trigger another traffic study.

The answer from the applicant’s side was direct. "There will be no additional traffic study provided," Kunsman said.

The applicant’s attorney also said the self-storage building would not have access to Route 28, and that the only Route 28 access would remain the existing farm stand access.

The hearing also touched on drainage and environmental concerns.

Kunsman said the project would meet water quality standards and groundwater recharge requirements.

The Bridgewater Zoning Board will carry the hearing to Oct. 13 at 7 p.m. after running out of time for public questions.

Meetings are held in person at the Bridgewater Township Municipal Building at 100 Commons Way, Bridgewater, and streamed live on the Bridgewater Township YouTube channel, which can be viewed by clicking on the video stream labeled “Bridgewater Zoning Board” at @BridgewaterNewJersey.

To see all of the documents associated with the storage facility application, click here.

Previous Reporting:

• Bridgewater Self Storage Revises Plan To Keep Farm Stand
• Farm Market's Future Unclear As Decision On Storage Facility Looms In Bridgewater
• 'You Reap What You Sow': Bridgewater Locals Oppose Storage Facility Replacing Farm Stand
• Final Vote Expected On Route 22 Self Storage Project Replacing Farm Stand In Bridgewater
• Route 22 Self Storage Proposes Slimming Down Size In Bridgewater
• Bridgewater Self Storage Unveils New Site Plan, Reduces Number Of Trees Removed
• 209 Trees To Be Cut For Proposed Self Storage Facility In Bridgewater
• Farm Stand Could Be Demolished, Replaced With Self-Storage Facility In Bridgewater

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