Hunterdon County Agriculture Development Board Meeting Thursday, April 12th, 2018 @ 8:00 pm 314 Route 12 County Complex Building #1 Assembly Room Flemington, New Jersey Members in Attendance: David Bond Kevin Milz Robert Hoffman CADB Staff Present: Shana Taylor, Esq. County Counsel Aaron Culton, Esq. County Counsel Melanie Mason, CADB Administrator Adam Bradford, CADB Staff Others: Open Public Meeting Act: Chairman Bond, opened the meeting at 8:00 p.m. and read the Open Public Meeting Act: "This meeting is being held in accordance with the provisions of the Open Public Meeting Act. Adequate notice has been provided by prominently posting and maintaining so posted throughout the year on the first floor of the County Administration Building, Main St., Flemington, New Jersey a public place reserved for such announcements, and by mailing on or before January 26, 2018, to The Hunterdon Democrat, Star Ledger, The Trenton Times, The Courier News and The Express Times newspapers, and TAP Into it newspaper and designated by the Hunterdon County Agriculture Development Board to receive such notices, and by filing with the Hunterdon County Clerk a schedule of the times and dates of such meetings." Pledge of Allegiance: Roll Call: Absent,,, Megan Muehlbauer Chairman Bond introduced the new Board member (Roger) Forest Locandro and Mr. Locandro said a few words about his background. Approval of Minutes Approval of March 8th meeting minutes. Robert Hoffman Jr., 1 P a g e
8 AYES, 1 ABSTAINED, MOTION CARRIED Communications and Administrative Business: CADB Staff update Staff reported that the CMV for the Goeckeler farm that was in the 2016 Harvest Round has come back and the landowners accepted the offer. This farm now goes up to the township for the final approval and then to the CADB hopefully next month for final approval also. Dirt Capital and Roving Wheel had final surveys done and tomorrow they are scheduled for final inspections. These two farms are getting close to closing. The two Runkle farms in West Amwell are also getting close to closing, hopefully by the summer. We will be awarding appraisals for the Silva and Martin (Maresca) Farms, there are two farms from the last selection round. Correspondence: None at this time. SADC Updates & New Business: Stefanie Miller from the SADC reported that the winery pilot program extension got through the Senate today and is pending review and signature at the Governor s office. SADC will also be sending out letters to landowners impacted by the PennEast pipeline again with an update and guidance related to condemnation proceedings. The SADC hopes to get those send out in the next week or so. Chair Comments: No comments at this time. Old Business: Staff reported that the SADC is no longer accepting farmer applications for their Committee but staff received clarification that it is possible to serve on both boards simultaneously. In the future if you would like to apply, please do so. 2 P a g e
Michisk Farm Final Approval Staff reported the Michisk farm has done all the recommendations that had been asked of them. They made the non-severable exception area bigger and the millings pile has been used for the new barn as Mr. Michisk said it would (shown in the aerial). Staff also reported that they have accepted the CMV values for their farm. Chairman Bond asked if there were any questions before asking for a vote. The committee is RECOMMENDING FINAL APPROVAL for the Michisk Farm Chairman Bond asked for a roll call vote. 7 IN FAVOR, 2 ABSTAINED, MOTION CARRIED. REOPEN HCADA PUBLIC HEARING A motion was made to reconvene this public hearing Chairman Bond asked if there were any question s before asking for a vote. The committee is RECOMMENDING TO RECONVENE THE HEARING ON THE COUNTY ADA THIS TIME. 3 P a g e
ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED. Bob Hoffman reported on Bethlehem Township, Califon Borough and Tewksbury Township. Staff said that they got good feedback from Tewksbury and Mr. Hoffman didn t see any issues. Califon was discussed last meeting and those changes were done and what is being done in Bethlehem seems to make sense. I think it makes sense to do what is proposed. There is nothing that the Farm Family Committee wanted to change at this time. reported on East Amwell and Readington Township. The large removal in East Amwell is largely Sourland forestland and not agriculture so it makes sense to come out, additions are good. While Mr. Kyle said he was less familiar with Readington, if you look on the map you see many of the removals are developed and along 78. There is nothing that the Farm Family Committee wanted changes to at this time. also had Readington and he said that he had no changes from what was proposed. reported on Franklin Township and Lebanon Township. Franklin had no removals but the additions make sense. Lebanon Township had some nice parcels added. It was discussed in Committee and there is nothing that the Committee wanted to change at this time and she agrees. Staff reported that Megan Muehlbauer wanted the committee to know her thoughts on the Lebanon Township parcel since she could not attend tonight s meeting. There is a preserved farm that was proposed to be added that did not meet the minimum 250 acre size. She suggested bridging with another piece to make it a more contiguous piece. The maps you see tonight reflect that change but since it was changed AFTER the packets originally went out staff wanted to bring it to the Board s attention. The committee saw this change since the PowerPoint has the up to date maps. The board discussed Lebanon Borough and had no changes. reported on Kingwood Township and Union Township. Liz reported that there was an area of the Horseshoe Bend Property that she wanted to address. The property is green acres preserved and has areas that are actively farmed. She thinks they should all stay in and not come 4 P a g e
out. The board didn t seem to have a strong feeling either way since it was preserved open space. Bob Hoffman replied that even though the property is preserved through open space and cannot be developed, why not just leave that parcel in the ADA since it is active farmland and there is hesitation to take it out? Chairman Bond asked if there were any question s before asking for a vote. The committee is RECOMMENDING LEAVING THE ADA AS IT WAS FOR HORSESHOE BEND PARK (NOT REMOVING IT). ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED. Liz also reported that there was no change in the Union Township ADA parcels. As discussed in the Farm Family Committee. reported on Readington Township & Clinton Township. Gerry reported that the Farm Family agreed upon the Readington Township ADA as was previously discussed. There was an issue about the 2 Exxon parcel farms in Clinton, which was brought up in the last meeting. The mapping indicates we should remove it from the ADA, largely due to it being in the one mile interstate exchange circles. These parcels have a sewer plant that has been built for the Exxon use but the property is actively being farmed in hay and is good ground. Everything is being farmed except the complex. Bob Hoffman stated that he believes it should be left in the ADA. Committee is in agreement to this idea. Chairman Bond asked if there were any question s before asking for a vote. 5 P a g e
A motion was made RECOMMENDING LEAVING THE 2 EON PARCELS IN THE ADA. ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED. reported on Alexandria Township, he didn t have any changes. Leave mapping as presented. reported on Raritan Township. That there is really no changes. There was a parcel that was originally proposed for removal because it did not meet the minimum size of 250 acres, but the Township wanted it left in. So the new map shows the parcel remaining in, with about 40 acres that bridges it to the existing ADA. Leaving mapping as currently presented. Mr. Van Nuys reported on West Amwell as well. The Township wanted to include a few parcels to the ADA in the southern portion which Farm Family agreed upon, and a proposed removal due to wooded Sourland parcels. Both of these changes occurred after the packets went out but are reflected on the current map. He suggested leaving mapping as currently presented. Chairman Bond reported on Delaware Township. There is a sewer capacity in the Sergeantsville town area that would need to be removed but there may be a farm in the town served by sewer that is preserved. Since it s at the intersection in Sergeantsville, considered the center of town, it makes sense to come out. Staff pointed out that the larger parcels in the area that are proposed removals are township owned but contain the school or municipal building for example so aren t really eligible. The Farm Family committee is in agreement. Leave map as presented. reported on Holland Township. There was one parcel that had asked at the last meeting as to why it was being removed. Staff looked into it and the parcel is preserved open space, part the of the Musconetcong preserve. There is one or two small fields but overall it is more wooded than farmed and it is a standalone piece. Other wooded lots have been removed 6 P a g e
and there is a portion near Milford that has multi-family/high density zoning so clearly the Township has this area slated for development and it can be argued that agriculture is not the preferred use. Staff indicated that Holland Township was ok with the changes. Farm Family is in agreement. Leave mapping as presented. Staff reported on the smaller parcel in Stockton Borough. Proposed addition to the ADA, which makes sense. Leave map as presented. Staff reported on Milford Borough. One proposed addition is part of a larger farm to make it completely within the ADA. Leave map as presented. Staff reported on Glen Gardner Borough. Two small addition s that capture the larger parcel and connect to the ADA in Lebanon. Leave mapping as presented. Chairman Bond asked if there are any public comment to additions, deletions or changes in the parcels to the County ADA. [No comments were offered] Chairman Bond asked if there were any other question s before asking for a vote. A motion was made TO APPROVE THE MAP AS PROPOSED WITH CHANGES APPROVED AS MENTIONED ABOVE FOR THE COUNTY ADA. ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED. Chairman Bond asked for a vote of the approval of the ADA Resolution presented at tonight s meeting. 7 P a g e
Chairman Bond asked if there were any question s before asking for a vote. A motion was made TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FOR THE COUNTY ADA. ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED New Business: SADC Right to Farm Outreach Staff reported that the SADC is looking for opportunities for a RTF Outreach Program in the near future. Staff had discussed a few options with SADC, and hoped to have a day and night presentation to reach as many parties as possible, hopefully holding one session each in the North and South. Bob Hoffman replied that we really need to get Municipal Officials and Zoning Officers on board to come to this meeting so they can be educated about right to farm policies. Chairman Bond also said that he believes that all parties should be included if possible. Liz Schmid asked if zoning officers need continuing education for their positions. Staff reported that they can t speak for all matters but don t believe that Right to Farm continuing education is required. The Board felt that it should be a requirement. Bob Hoffman mentioned SADC doing something at the League of Municipalities in Atlantic City? Staff replied that they will advise the SADC of that idea. The Board discussed having a daytime session in hopes of including municipal officials but also having a night meeting to have farmers and other interested parties here. Chairman Bond asked about a time preference. Bob Hoffman replied that a November meeting might be better for the farming community and said that the municipal one could be sooner. 8 P a g e
Staff reported that they will contact the SADC for a better time schedule on when they would want to set up meetings and will advise the board. Right To Farm Matters: None at this time Motion made to ADJORN Meeting Chairman Bond asked for a roll call vote. Adjournment: ALL IN FAVOR, MOTION CARRIED. Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:01 pm. 9 P a g e