Morris Twp. Considers Right-to-Farm Law

Farming is not a major industry in Morris Township, especially since land once farmed at St. Mary’s Abbey is now in public ownership, but the Morris County Agricultural Development Board is asking for a right-to-farm ordinance anyway.

The planning board Monday authorized its attorney, Brian Burns, to draft a right-to-farm ordinance—a requirement for the county to purchase development rights from the Rosenhaus Farm.

The county and the Rosenhaus family wish to preserve the 50-plus acre farm, officials said. Morris County has the funding to buy development rights, but one of the requirements is an ordinance that sets out special rights for farmers—for example, exceptions from noise ordinances or hours of operation rules, or allowances for fences closer to property lines.

Burns said most of the working farms in the township are between the Mendham Township line and Western Avenue, with a few scattered parcels elsewhere. He suggested placing a farming overlay zone—a subset of another zone, where agriculture is allowed—just in those areas.

The right-to-farm ordinance mostly concerns livestock setbacks and fencing, but board members were most concerned with the prospect of guaranteeing rights for farm stands. Mayor Scott Rosenbush said some farm stands become large operations with much traffic, and the farms in Morris Township are not on roads that would accommodate such traffic.

Burns said the ordinance could limit the size of farmstands and their parking lots.

Burns will bring a draft ordinance for consideration by the board at its Oct. 17 meeting.