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Dated 10/10/2003

C.A.D.B. Minutes July 10, 2003

Meeting Minutes of July 10, 2003 8:00 pm

Others present: Gaetano DeSapio, County Counsel, Gary Pohorely, CADB Program Administrator, Sharon Longo, CADB Assistant Program Administrator, Dinah Rowbotham, Assistant Planner. And other members of the public

At 8:00 p.m., Chairman Bob Reed opened the meeting by reading the Open Public Meetings Act meeting notice.

"This meeting is being held in accordance with the provision of the Open Public Meetings 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 Street, a public place reserved for such announcements and by mailing on or before January 9, 2003 to the Hunterdon County Democrat, The Beacon, The Express-Times, Courier News, The Times, Hunterdon Review, and Star Ledger, newspapers designated by the Hunterdon County Clerk a schedule of the time, dates and place of the holdings of these regular meetings."

Minutes of June 12, 2003
A correction was pointed out by Bill Bowlby – in the second paragraph under New Business, a change should be made to reflect that Bill did not abstain, he objected. Pat Hilton moved to approve the minutes with the above-referenced revision. Dave Bond seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

Public Comment
Oliver Elbert mentioned that there was an article in the New York Times on Biosolids. He handed out copies to the Board for their reference.

Correspondence
Gary briefly mentioned the presentation he and Bob Mickel made at Hunterdon County’s Smart Growth meeting.

Gary passed around a copy of the updated farmland preservation brochure created by Sharon for Board members to look over.

Gary announced that Franklin Township is auctioning the Frazee farm on July 22.

Gary announced that he attended the meeting on the Mulhockaway Creek Watershed Management Committee meeting on July 7, 2003. He mentioned his previous site visits at the preserved Delaney farm in Union and Bethlehem Townships. Mr. Delaney has experienced flooding problems since the upstream Toll Brothers development was constructed. The Mulhockaway Creek has been increasingly eroding his land and changing its drainage pattern. According to Dan Van Abs of New Jersey Water Supply Authority, there may be possible improvements to reduce the flooding and erosion such as retrofitting the development’s detention basin.

Gary asked the Board if staff should have a display at the 4H fair this year. Members of the Board generally agreed that they would like staff to participate.

Gary announced that staff is attending the County Board of Agriculture’s Farmer Businessmen’s picnic on July 23rd.

Gary reminded the board that there is no August meeting.

Old Business
- PDR Update
Gary announced that he attended the SADC meeting last month and that the SADC invalidated the Emmet farm. The comment made by the SADC was that Mr. Emmet should acquire more property to meet the road frontage requirements. Shaun Van Doren, Tewksbury Township Liaison, said that Mr. Emmet may be acquiring more land in Readington Township and may reapply to the program.

- PIG Update
Bob Reed commented that in Delaware Twp the Kohrherr farm application is being withdrawn.

- Bethlehem Township, Bush (Ennis) Farm - Use of Motor Bikes
Styra Eisinger, Bethlehem Township Liaison, reported that the Township believes Mr. Ennis (property owner) is expanding the use of his preserved farm by riding motorcycles on his farm. It is the Board’s position that riding motorcycles on the farm, as long as this does not interfere with agriculture uses, does not violate the deed of easement. Mr. Ennis stated that the trails he built on his farm for motorcycle use are in conformance with his woodland management plan. Guy sent a letter to the Township and was hoping that more officials would come to tonight’s meeting to discuss this issue. However, the letter was sent from DeSapio’s office late, and the Township may not have had enough notice. Guy will send another letter to the Township suggesting that the CADB is willing to mediate and encourage discussion between Mr. Ennis and Bethlehem Township at a CADB meeting. The Board’s opinion is that Mr. Ennis’ use of motorcycles on his farm is not prohibited by the deed of easement.

- Biosolids Committee Report
Gary summarized the meeting held with John Peterson, Susan Blew, Pat Hilton, Bob Mickel, and himself. Gary read a summary of Rutgers guidelines: 1. Certified organic will not accept biosolids,. 2. Most NJ food processors will not accept fruits and vegetables. 3. Application rates depend on nutrients and pH. 4. Testing must be done particularly for metals. 5. The better crops for uptake are corn and small grains. 6. All farms should have a conservation plan that is fully implemented. Gary then said that he spoke to Tom Weigert, from NRCS. Tom said that monitoring the land’s pH is more critical than monitoring nutrients. The farmer should be wary that the soil may become too alkaline from using biosolids. Tom pointed out that there are three parties involved in biosolids application, the supplier, the spreader and the landowner. The spreader is the “weak link” because they would be paid by how much they spread so there is a financial incentive to spread too much material.

Gary announced that there is a hearing on July 28 at the SADC auditorium at 3pm. Gary asked the board if they wanted him to prepare a position paper to send to the SADC. John Peterson said that until Cook College announces that biosolids are a safe fertilizer, he will not support biosolids as a safe fertilizer. It is also his opinion that the CADB should be very careful about what to allow for preserved farms in particular because the CADB is preserving this farmland for eternal agricultural use. John then stated that he feels there are too many unknowns to form a solid position as the CADB and recommend it to farmers in the County. All of the members of the board agreed that they are not qualified to take a position on this issue.

- Delaware Township PIG Amendment (soil calculations for Alderfer Farm)
The PIG Committee supports the preservation of two farms in the Delaware
Township PIG Amendment – the Sergeantsville Properties and Darling Farm - but not the Alderfer farm. The Committee will approve the amendment but has the opinion that the Alderfer farm is too steep to be considered valuable agricultural land. They would like staff to investigate what crops are grown on the farm. Bill Bowlby made the motion to approve the amendment but recommend to the Freeholders that the Alderfer farm is not a “good buy.” Susan Blew seconded. The motion passed, Dave Bond and Bob Reed abstained.

New Business

- Alexander Township (Stamets) Farm Block 14, lot 16.
Alexandria Township approved a resolution on July 9, 2003 that changed the Deed of Easement (DOE) on the Stamets Farm. The DOE is currently owned by the Township, and the Township is currently an applicant for the County’s 2003 PDR Round (reimbursement). The change to the DOE was the creation of a two acre non-severable exception. The change was made upon reimbursement from the estate owner in the amount the Township paid for the development rights on those two acres. The Township is requesting that their application to the County be changed to reflect this exception and change in the DOE. The Board discussed the location of the exception. Dave Bond made the motion to grant the request, with the stipulation that access to the exception area must not interfere with agricultural activities on the farm. Pat Hilton seconded. The motion passed.

- Holland Twp Kinney Farm Request
Dick Dieterly, Holland Township attorney, discussed the Kinney farm, a preserved farm of approximately 200 acres, with a 20 acre severable exception for recreational use. The Township now wants the ability to use the piece for recreational purposes but also have it available for agriculture. Guy gave the Board the history of the language in the deed of easement regarding the exception. Holland Township wants to change the restriction on the 20 acre severable exception. The restriction would change from only permitting municipal recreational use to permitting municipal recreation OR agricultural use, have no more than one single family house and agricultural buildings, and undergo no further subdivision. The Township would like the ability to use the 20 acre parcel for recreational purposes, but also have the ability to sell the parcel as a farm. Gary pointed out that while making their decision the Board should consider if the farmer of the 180 acre farm, would prefer to have a 20 acre farm as a neighbor, or 100 screaming kids playing soccer on the Township’s property. Dave Bond motioned to approve the Township’s request. Pat Hilton seconded. Wayne Hunt was opposed. All else were in favor. The motion passed. Guy told the Board he needed to check on the legality of changing the deed of easement.

- Delaware Twp PIG Amendment, Gilde Farm Block 34, lot 8. –
Staff will investigate and address at the next meeting.

- Delaware Twp PIG Final Approval, Locandro Block 56, lots 17.01 and 19
The PIG Committee reported that they approve of the final approval. Bill Bowlby made the motion. Pat Hilton seconded. The motion passed with Dave Bond and Bob Reed abstaining.

- Eight Year Program Application- Readington Twp, Block 55, lot 8, Kappus farm.
Gary told the board that the property meets all the criteria for the Eight Year Program. Bob Hoffman made the motion to approve the application. Susan Blew seconded the motion and it passed unanimously.

- Garden State Growers Appeal.
GSG filed an appeal with the SADC. The SADC sent a letter back to Guy and said that they would like the CADB to mediate. John Peterson motioned to inform the SADC they will not participate in the mediation process and would like to hand the situation over to the SADC. Bob Hoffman seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

- Kenneth Novak, Delaware Township Block 25, lot 23 Subdivision Request
Robert Hornby represented Ken and Jackie Novak. The Novaks submitted a subdivision application to the Delaware Township Planning Board to create a new lot on their property. When the Hunterdon County Planning Department (HCPB) received the application, they made two conditions of approval that the Novaks dispute. The HCPB is asking the Novaks to construct one common driveway for access to County Road 523 for the existing and proposed lots. This would require two residential users and the farmer to share one driveway for access to County Route 523. The farm lot also has an access via a second driveway to Lower Ferry Road. The Novaks feel that the HCPB requirements would impede their hay farming operation. The Novaks would like the CADB to write a letter of support to the HCPB lifting the second and third conditions of the letter which outline the access restrictions and driveway adjustments. Bill Bowlby made the motion for Gary to write a letter of support on behalf of the CADB to the HCPB. Pat Hilton seconded. The wording should express the concern of the CADB that the HCPB is inhibiting the productivity of the farm. The motion passed unanimously.

SADC Update

Stephanie Miller told the Board that the regional meetings for the Strategic Targeting Plan are scheduled for the last week in July. Farmland stewardship grants were approved. The staff anticipates funding approval for 2004 PIGs at the July SADC meeting.

Public Comment
No comment was offered.

Adjournment
Pat Hilton motioned to adjourn. Bob Hoffman seconded. The motion passed at 9:50.

_________________________________
Gary Pohorely, Secretary

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