Fresh & Fancy Farms Gets Ok to Build on Preserved Land

After months of testimony before both the planning and zoning boards, Fresh & Fancy Farms has obtained approval to build on preserved land. 

The zoning board passed a resolution last week approving the to relocate an existing greenhouse, construct a new greenhouse and construct a new 36' x 60' barn with a greenhouse and 12 foot overhang.

Fresh & Fancy's Deed of Easement Conservation, a designation that preserves and protects land from development, means certain restrictions apply to what can be done to the property. 

The board determined that Low's request for variances for the relocation of an existing greenhouse and the construction of a new greenhouse and a barn with a greenhouse is consistent with the deed of easement.

Don Low, owner of Fresh & Fancy Farms, had gone back and forth between the planning and zoning boards and representatives of the Bergen County Farmland Preservation Department of Planning & Economic Development to obtain approvals on the variances. 

According to borough documents, the previous owners of the farm (Klinger family) sold their rights to develop the land to the county and the Borough of New Milford for $326,000.  

The board did not grant Low the variance for the 12 foot high, 6' x 6' double sided sign facing River Road because as board attorney Scott Sproviero argued, the language of the farm deed is "less than clear" when it comes to signs.

The deed specifies that no signs for advertising purposes are permitted; however, Fresh & Fancy Farms asserts that the sign is to "identify" their farm and not to "advertise."

Low is going back to the county to get a determination on signage.