Farm Stand To Stay, Bridgewater Approves Self-Storage Plan

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The long-standing family-run Melick's Farm Stand will remain at its site on Route 28.

The Bridgewater Zoning Board of Adjustment voted 5-2 at its Oct. 13 meeting to approve an application for a self-storage facility that includes preserving the farm stand on the 5.4-acre property along Route 22 and Route 28.

The review stretched across seven meetings from March 2025 to October 2026.

The application sought preliminary and final site plan approval along with several variances.

Those included D1 use variances for a self-storage use not permitted in the C3 zone, for a farm stand use not permitted in the C3 zone, to allow two principal uses on one lot, and to allow two principal structures on the lot.

The application also included a D4 floor area ratio variance and bulk variances tied to setbacks, loading spaces and signage.

During public summations, attorney Jeff Brennan, appearing on behalf of Bridgewater Residents United, urged the board to reject the plan.

"It's my understanding that the total population of Bridgewater is about 50,000 people or so, maybe a tick under that. Those people elected a governing body to, among other things, uh, establish zoning for the town. Seven of you will now decide whether to go against that will and deviate from the zoning. That is an incredibly awesome responsibility when you consider the potential impact that this facility would have on the adjacent residential neighborhood. And frankly, how it would change the way that this area of town has looked for a very, very long time," said Brennan.

"So rightly or wrongly, if this application is approved, it will be forever connected to you. And if I were in your shoes, I would demand more," continued Brennan. "Your town deserves better... please vote no."

He argued the applicant had not met the legal standard for the requested variances and said the board had heard too little about future operations.

Matthew Capizzi, attorney for Bridgewater Self Storage LLC defended the proposal and the review process.

"Over the last seven meetings, we've heard from a civil engineer on numerous occasions, an architect on numerous occasions, a traffic engineer, and two planners," he said.

He also said municipal reviewers, including police, fire and DPW, no longer had concerns after plan revisions.

In deliberations, Zoning Board Chairman John Kulak said the board had to avoid a decision that was "arbitrary, capricious or unreasonable."

Several members said the proposed use would generate less traffic than other development allowed in the zone.

Other members opposed the project, with one citing concern over the floor area ratio and saying the building was too large.

Before the vote, the board attorney outlined conditions that would apply if the application were approved.

Those included no tractor-trailers on site, no outdoor storage, customer access limited to 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, office hours limited to set daytime and Saturday hours, lighting restrictions, hazardous material prohibitions in leases, continued landscape buffer maintenance, and completion of improvements tied to the farm stand area before a certificate of occupancy for the self-storage building.

The final vote came down to five in favor and two against.

Previous Reporting:

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