Farm Market's Future Unclear As Decision On Storage Facility Looms In Bridgewater

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — The Melick family, who have run Melick's Town Farm in Bridgewater for 22 years, says it wants to stay in town.

However, the seasonal farm stand's future remains uncertain as a decision on a pending development application to build a self-storage facility at the site looms.

A continued hearing and possible final vote on the application, filed by Bridgewater Self Storage LLC is planned to be heard before the Township Zoning Board of Adjustment for Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.

The application is seeking preliminary and final site plan approval, bulk variances and a D1 use variance at 351 Route 28 and 322 Route 22.

The plan would consolidate the two lots into one building lot, remove the existing improvements and construct a self-storage facility with 15 parking spaces. This would replace Melick's Farm Stand and the long-vacant Tectonic building in Bridgewater.

Rebecca Melick, one of the owners of Melick Town Farm, told Patch the business has deep roots in New Jersey agriculture.

"We're 10th generation farmers in the Hunterdon County area," Melick said.

The family’s date of origin is 1728, Melick said, and its home base is in Oldwick, with other operations in Califon and a year-round farm market in Oldwick.

Melick said the Bridgewater stand began when the Kaiser family, which had long operated the property as a seasonal farm market, asked the family to rent the site.

"They kind of ran out of family members that were willing to run the seasonal farm market, and so they wanted to keep it going," Melick said. "And they asked us if we would be interested in renting it."

According to Melick, the stand has operated as a seasonal farm market for about 80 years.

Melick said customers in the area are used to coming there for "peaches, corn, and tomatoes."

The Melick family does not own the Bridgewater property and learned it was under contract when QuickChek proposed a gas station and market in 2015. That application was later withdrawn in 2016.

"I very much want to stay, and it's just overwhelming, really, the support that we've gotten from the community," Melick said. "I had no idea how important we were."

Melick said Bridgewater Residents United has been organizing around the issue and raising money for a legal defense fund tied to the application. The group has launched a GoFundMe to help raise money for a legal defense.

Melick's Farm Stand also serves 80 CSA subscribers who pick up weekly boxes on Mondays for 22 weeks.

A replacement site for Melick's farm stand hasn't been found in Bridgewater.

If the project is approved, Melick said, "We would just retreat back to Hunterdon County," adding that local customers would lose easy access to the farm’s products.

"I'd be devastated," Melick said. "I've been doing this for 22 years. I love my staff that you know live and work here. I love my customers."

The Bridgewater Zoning Board of Adjustment will be held on Sept. 22 at 7 p.m.

Meetings are held in person at the Bridgewater Township Municipal Building at 100 Commons Way, Bridgewater, and streamed live on the Bridgewater Township YouTube channel, which can be viewed by clicking on the video stream labeled “Bridgewater Zoning Board” at @BridgewaterNewJersey.

To see all of the documents associated with the storage facility application, click here.

Previous Reporting:

• 'You Reap What You Sow': Bridgewater Locals Oppose Storage Facility Replacing Farm Stand
• Final Vote Expected On Route 22 Self Storage Project Replacing Farm Stand In Bridgewater
• Route 22 Self Storage Proposes Slimming Down Size In Bridgewater
• Bridgewater Self Storage Unveils New Site Plan, Reduces Number Of Trees Removed
• 209 Trees To Be Cut For Proposed Self Storage Facility In Bridgewater
• Farm Stand Could Be Demolished, Replaced With Self-Storage Facility In Bridgewater

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