HOWELL – An ordinance allowing farmers to hold special events was put on hold after local authorities received a letter objecting to the legislation.
The proposed ordinance, entitled “Farm Related Special Events,” was put on hold after authorities received a letter from attorney John Jackson on behalf of Eagle Oaks Gold and Country Club objecting to the ordinance.
In the letter, Johnson argued that the proposed regulations would create an unfair playing field. Established and lawful banquet operations, like Eagle Oaks, have gone through considerable expense and regulatory hurdles to operate their facilities. Johnson contends that the new ordinance would essentially “allow the circumvention of the ordinary regulatory controls” that govern improvements for businesses like Eagle Oaks.
The attorney’s letter also raised concerns about the potential consequences on residents and businesses if farm events are not subject to more stringent regulations. These concerns included traffic congestion, noise, light pollution, and environmental damage.
“This is something we were concerned with,” said Councilman Fred Gasior, who is running in the June Republican primary for mayor. “Because the ordinance is giving preferential treatment and ignoring other businesses.”
The primary issue is that maintaining the ordinances in their current form could expose Howell to potential litigation, a scenario that Gasior believes must be avoided at all costs.
Deputy Mayor Ian Nadel, who is also running for mayor in the Republican primary echoed Gasior’s sentiments.
“We are going to have to look at the potential legal challenge and look at the issues,” said Nadel. “We obviously still want to work with the farmers, but we have to make sure that it’s done right and legally.”
Both Gasior and Nadel said the process involves meeting with legal counsel and possibly changing the ordinances in their current form.
John Leggio, the third candidate in the Republican primary, shared his perspective on the issue. He highlighted that Eagle Oaks is an exclusive club attracting a different clientele compared to the farmers’ special events. Leggio also raised questions about potential political ties within the community, referencing various organizations that have held functions at Eagle Oaks.
“How can they compare the two,” Leggio questioned. “They’re (Eagle Oaks) under a closed roof as opposed to a seasonal farm business.”
Local farmers and township administrators have attempted to work together on the ordinances, with some farmers stating the town is overreaching in its attempts to pass local laws. At the most recent Town Council meeting, farm owner Betty Lou Velez-Gimbel spoke about the financial hardships farmers are experiencing and their need to hold special events to supplement their income.
“As repeatedly stated, the state of New Jersey has already established law to protect the right to farm and the health and safety of the public,” Gimbel said. “There was no need to reinvent the wheel. This is government overreach at its best; the intent of this administration in developing these ordinances was to solely be the first municipality to put farmers in their place.”
Gimbel also said that she viewed adding in-depth language to rules overseeing farm markets and farm stands as retaliatory in nature.
Township Manager Joe Clark said the proposed ordinances carved out exceptions to a more detailed process that would give farmers a greater set of rights than other commercial activities had.
“I’m dismayed and confused by the comments made by Miss Gimbel,” said Matt Howard, Director of Community Development and Land Use Officer. “She used terms of retaliatory, putting farmers in their place.”
Howard said that the intent was not to take rights away from farmers, but to grant rights onto the properties. He said that Right to Farm is not an automatic approval and that special events are not a Right to Farm activity.
“Right now, special events are not permitted,” Howard added. “We keep bringing up that this is in conflict with Right to Farm.”
In a Facebook page run by Howell Farmers United, the group accused the local administration of placing a chokehold on the farming community. The post speaks out against leveraging ordinances which stand to micromanage and stifle growth opportunities for farms.
“This should not be a fight,” the post continued. “Farmers are currently farming and digging deep into their resources thanks to the poor foresight of our current township administration.”
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