Brewing in Mendham Township

On October 23, I attended the Mendham Township special meeting for “an open forum to discuss the Revised BF Partners LLC Preserved Farm Brewery Plan”. The agenda had 14 predetermined discussion topics; Storm-water Compliance, Noise, Capacity, Traffic, Alcoholic Beverage Serving Hours, Parking Areas and Access Drives, Screening, Lighting, Driveway Width, Parking Space Depth, Off-Street Loading Space, Front Yard Setback, Accessory Structure Height, and Sign Size. During the five-hour special meeting only the first four topics were opined on mostly by members of the audience, likely requiring another ten or more hours of “open forum”.

My reasons for attending the special meeting are as follows; to learn more about the revised BF Partners Preserved Farm Brewery, understand the position of the Township Committee, their pending response to the Morris County Agriculture Development Board, to hear the concerns of neighboring property owners and to find out why a Brewery that will serve beer is appropriate in a residential neighborhood. Unfortunately, I learned little about the position of the township committee and learned nothing about the revised BF Partners plan, why it’s good for the community or how it would address the concerns of their neighbors.

The proposed BF Partners licensed premises or areas where beer will be served has been described as a tasting room. A public space with large screen TV’s, live entertainment, an outdoor deck and at least 78 seats is better described as a destination venue, event space, bar or tap room.

What I heard is that most neighbors reluctantly accept the BF Partners plan to brew beer, but have serious concerns about a tap room serving beer in a residential neighborhood and its effect on their quality of life (noise, traffic and safety). These concerns are directly related to BF Partners plans for special events, live entertainment, overall capacity, size of the tap room and its hours of operation.

At the special meeting there were comments accusing neighboring property owners of using the rules to fight the proposed Brewery and how the community should trust BF Partners. There’s nothing wrong with using the rules and trust is built on ongoing constructive dialogue. BF Partners’ attorney was evasive and made no attempt to build trust at the special meeting. BF Partners is using the rules to win approval for their Preserved Farm Based brewery which is located in a residential neighborhood and preserved in part with tax payer money.

Not included in the special meetings discussion points is the multiple times BF Partners have filed and withdrawn their application. The original application was first pending before the Mendham Township planning board in October of 2021 and then withdrawn. It was then filed at the CADB and subsequently withdrawn in August 2022 because the Township engineer determined the brewery plan was a major development. The application was then re-filed before the CADB in June 2023. What has changed? In an effort to build trust and as a courtesy to township residents will BF Partners present the entire revised plan for their Preserved Farm Brewery and take questions at the next special meeting?

The position of the Township Committee should be consistent with the Township’s adopted 2021 master plan. A plan that does not call for adding commercial business or additional liquor licenses to the township, a plan that is silent on agricultural tourism.

The Morris County Agriculture Development Board is the authority with the power to approve the BF Partner LLC application and grant the required variances. The CADB is seeking input from the Township Committee on the BF Partners’ application, since BF Partners’ application was filed in June of this year. Now is the time for the Township Committee to commission an independent expert study on the impact of increased commercial activity, liquor licenses and agricultural tourism. It’s important for everyone to know how these activities will impact property taxes, property values, quality of life and the long-term goals of the township’s master plan. It’s also important to understand what changes or improvements may need to be made by the township and how much revenue these types of activities will ultimately generate for the township. The study’s findings should be included as an element of the master plan and used as the basis for the township’s response to the CADB.