Manalapan Attorney: Pig Farm Not Permitted, Spano: Yes It Is

MANALAPAN- Township Attorney Roger McLaughlin said that the Township’s position regarding the proposed pig farm on the 123 acre property on the corner of Route 33 and Millhurst Road is that a pig farm is not a permitted use.

Speaking during the Township Committee’s public meeting on Wednesday night, McLaughlin said that the Committee had discussed the “press release” about the pig farm that owner Joe Spano plans for his property during executive session and that they had determined that the property, in a VC (Village Commercial) zone is not permitted to be a farm.  “Farming is not a permitted use in the VC zone,” McLaughlin said.  “There has been no application for a farm. If there is an application, it will be denied.  Farming is permitted in most zones, but not the VC zone.”

(MoreMonmouthMusings reported on Spano’s plans last week.  Spano did not issue a press release.)

“There have been several development proposals on the property,” McLaughlin continued, “including one that was rejected last year.   The committee is aware that another proposal will be forthcoming.   We see the pig farm proposal for what it is — a threat.”

McLaughlin did not elaborate on the other forthcoming proposal.

Spano, the owner of the property through his company, Village at Manalapan, told MMM that the property is a farm and was a farm prior to the VC zone being created. “It is grandfathered as a permitted use,” Spano said. “Unless someone can show me that farming is not permitted, there are pigs going on to the property next week.”

Spano said that he has been in touch with Manalapan’s Health Officer, David Richardson, who said the zoning question is hurdle that he is addressing with the Board of Health attorney and the Township’s Zoning Officer.  Assuming that hurdle is overcome, Spano said that Richardson told him that he does not need a permit for up to 25 pigs. Any buildings or runs would need to be 250 feet from roadways and 400 feet from residential structures.  There must be an onsite water supply and there must be sturdy fencing.

Spano said he will need a permit from the Health Department when he brings more than 25 pigs onto the property, which he plans to do after the current soy bean crop is harvested in October. The setback requirements for roads and houses are the same, there must be concrete floors in the buildings and waste must be directed to a septic system or closed tank.

Former Mayor George Spodak, speaking during the public comment period of the Township Committee meeting, said, “The owners of the property knew what they what buying when they bought the property in 2003.  Spano made a bad deal.  It is not the Township’s responsibility to bail him out. I can’t imagine that a pig farm is allowed in a residential area.”

Committeeman Jack McNaboe took credit for stopping the development of the property.  “This Township Committee has shut down development in town,” McNaboe said,  “I am proud of that.  We may have to loosen up a bit for affordable housing. That’s the law of the land coming out of Trenton. We can’t do anything about that.”