Revisions To Proposed Brewery Plan To Be Discussed In Mendham

MENDHAM, NJ — Mendham Township officials will be hosting an open forum to discuss revisions to the Backer Farm variance plan.

Backer Farm, a local family-run preserved farm, has been coming up against criticism from Mendham residents as it seeks to add a brewery operation on its property, with citizens protesting potential environmental and cultural impacts.

The public forum is planned for Oct. 23 at 6 p.m. at the Mendham Township Middle School, all-purpose room, 16 Washington Valley Road, Brookside.

The hearing will be live-streamed via the Zoom platform, but only in-person attendees will be able to make comments. Attendees will have six minutes for each issue to offer their remarks, township officials said.

Attorneys, engineers, and other professionals who desire to speak should provide written reports ahead of time. Attorneys representing parties may speak but must identify their clients ahead of time if practicable. Clients who are represented by such attorneys will be unable to answer because the attorney is speaking on their behalf.

The public session will allow for the community to discuss individual issues or the amended variance plan.

The proposed outline for each topic discussion is as follows:

1. Introduce the topic and briefly review the township's response from May 2022.
2. Discuss any needed or proposed updates to the May 2022 response from Mendham Township professionals, staff, and Township Committee members.
3. Public comment on a response:
   1. Each person may speak once on each topic.
4. Final direction to Mendham Township professionals on the 2023 response

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 approved by the Mendham Township Zoning Board of Adjustment in February 2022 with a 5-2 vote.

According to Frank Pinto, Backer Farm's project manager and spokesperson, 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.

The Backer family, who have been in the Mendham community for more than 90 years, said that they intend to use a public water system for all brewery operations, with wastewater trucked off-site once a month.

Below are the topics that will be addressed:

• Stormwater 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
• Sign Size