Farm on Main, Hollow Pines Green-Lighted in Eagleswood – The SandPaper

In October, the Eagleswood Land Use Board approved two projects that will make the small town a destination for weddings, dining and entertainment.

The Farm on Main is a 20-acre utopia of nuptial celebration, hidden in plain sight at 450 Main St. (Route 9). The property is owned by Tom and Jessica Scangarello of Surf City-based Bay Avenue Plant Co. They are working with select local vendors to offer wedding events awash in rustic elegance and luxury.

According to the resolution prepared by Land Use Board attorney Terry Brady and certified by secretary Kathleen Wells, the applicants had previously received approval for a single-family dwelling use, a horse barn and grazing area, five greenhouses, a detached garage, a farm equipment storage area, and an event venue building with a pond and dock. They returned for approval to include an event tent, to be used between April 2022 and March 2023, while the previously approved event venue building is being constructed, with continued use of the tent on an occasional basis.

Along with their planner, Tom Scangarello Sr., they testified to the design and purposes of the proposed temporary tent, which will be dismantled after each event. Portable restrooms and handicap access will be provided.

Just up the road, Hollow Pines is the new restaurant that will replace Sleepy Hollow at 475 Main St. On behalf of the Tide Table Group partners, Melanie Magaziner and William Mehl gave testimony, seeking approval to construct a two-story addition to the existing development at the site.

According to the resolution, the addition measures 3,900 square feet on the first floor and 1,375 square feet on the second floor, with 49 new parking spaces, a fire suppression water tank, and a new outdoor seating and dining area associated with an outdoor bar.

Variances and waivers were requested for sign setback, parking spaces (98 are proposed where 209 are required), interior lot curbing and surfacing, and an Environmental Impact Statement.

Mehl and Magaziner, along with engineer Robert Sive, environmental consultant Chris Dolphin and architect Sean McGovern, testified that the originally proposed stage area is being eliminated, thus removing the use variance aspect of the application; and that the water tank height will be reduced to meet the townships height limitations, thus removing the bulk variance aspect.

The proposed restaurant/bar/game (e.g., duck pin bowling) operation will have no more than 20 employees onsite at any one time. The second floor will not have any restaurant tables, but rather will be used for the games. Shade trees along Route 9 will be located inside the right-of-way and curbs and sidewalks will be installed along Route 9. A design waiver is requested for curbs in the interior parking area, which will be gravel with wheel stops for designating parking spaces.

A shuttle for pick-up and drop-off of patrons will be provided to assure safe travel. The applicant has applied for a jurisdictional determination letter from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection regarding the applicability of CAFRA regulations, based upon the number of parking spaces existing and to be added. The lighting will be on (shielded from residences) from dusk until one hour past closing, which will be 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The applicant will utilize the existing front sign in its present location. The lots will be consolidated to reflect one single tract and use.

Victoria Ford

victoria@thesandpaper.net

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Farm on Main, Hollow Pines Green-Lighted in Eagleswood - The SandPaper