Environmental Concern Over Backer Brewery Sparks Debate In Mendham

MENDHAM, NJ — The ongoing process aiming to convert a local preserved farm into a farm-based brewery has recently sparked a new round of conversation as members of the public spoke up during an open forum on Monday night.

Residents from all over Mendham came and spoke at the nearly 5-hour-long township council meeting, discussing various topics from noise and parking concerns to environmental and traffic impacts on the township.

Backer Farm has been seeking permission to establish a brewery operation on their property, which currently has produce and livestock. The farm's plan was initially approved by the Mendham Township Zoning Board of Adjustment last year with a 5-2 vote.

Read More: Hearing Delayed For Backer Farm Brewery Proposal In Mendham

The project has been on the docket for the Morris County Agriculture Development Board, although the official application has not yet been heard.

The Morris County Agriculture Development Board scheduled a virtual hearing on the farm's proposal for a brewery and tasting room last August after months of waiting, but it was canceled.

According to Frank Pinto, Backer Farm's project manager and spokesperson, the cancellation was caused by the township's engineer changing his mind about whether the project qualified as a major stormwater development. Pinto said the change in opinion occurred on Aug. 10, prompting the county to cancel the public hearing.

Bill Kibler, the director of policy for the Raritan Headwaters Association, spoke out on behalf of the association, stating concerns about how the brewery project could impact soil health and subsequently, water health in the surrounding areas.

"The overflow parking on this site, as well as the other parking, is a recurring use, which is very real, which is going to have a very real and detrimental effect on soil health and by extension, stream and aquifer health. This must be included in the stormwater calculations and when determining that project's status as a major development," Kibler said.

According to Pinto, the Backers have hired a number of professionals to help them maintain the project's integrity. Among the professionals hired were a civil engineer, a land use planner, a professional wetlands scientist and a farmland preservation expert.

In response to the resident's claims, the Backer family has stated that their driveway and stormwater calculations have been reviewed by the municipal engineer.

"A soil erosion and sediment control plan has been certified by the Morris County Soil Conservation District. Backer Farm has a letter from the Morris County Planning Board determining that the project will have no adverse effect upon county roads or drainage facilities and is exempt from County Planning Board review," the Backer family said.

Nicole Voigt, the Backer family's attorney, noted that many of the community's concerns about how parking may harm the land and ecology had already been addressed at the farm for years, with no public complaints.

"The majority of this is already existing, and you're not getting complaints on stormwater," Voigt said.

Still, members of the Mendham Township community have expressed their displeasure at the idea of a "large-scale operation" joining the community.

"This is what Mendham Township has said it wants: to preserve traditional farming and limit anything that resembles a destination farm or large-scale operation, like Alstedes. Our master plan describes our town as a low-density residential community with significant, sensitive land, rural and historic characteristics, and a limited infrastructure base. Its future land use policies should be designed to protect and continue these characteristics," one township resident said.

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"This township committee for the first time in 90 years, is going to be talking about adding a commercial business to our township. Pretty much since Sammy's and the post office went in, and the little tiny store next to it, we haven't had any commercial businesses of any significance added to this town. This is part of our heritage. This is part of our history, and frankly, pretty much anyone I ever meet says, 'Oh, Mendham, it's great, it's all residential,'" George Koenig said.

Members of the committee unanimously agreed that it would be in the best interests of the township to heed the advice of municipal officials on stormwater and environmental impacts.

They agreed to have township engineer Denis Keenan analyze the current report and offer recommendations on what should be included in a final response for the project.