By Sarah Fertsch
Staff Writer
It all started with a simple idea: grow grapes on a traditional tree farm and open a tasting room named after Ocean City, a famously dry beach town. Then the plans went awry.
Mike and Robin Halpern of Collingswood decided to retire down the shore. With Robin’s vineyard skills and Mike’s knack for business, converting a 5.2-acre tree farm to a winery and 80-seat tasting room seemed like a great idea.
When almost 30 neighbors came forward in opposition to the Ocean City Winery, everyone lawyered up, and the real battle began.
According to the Halperns’ lawyer Colin Bell, the couple is rightfully farming the land under the Right to Farm Act.
“This land has already been preserved for agricultural activities, and we believe that growing, harvesting, and producing wine fall under those categories,” said Bell.
Neighbors have come forward during township zoning meetings expressing concerns over the prospect of large event bookings, drunk patrons wandering the streets, and unruly behavior in their residential neighborhood.
The Halperns have made concessions by agreeing not to host weddings, limiting the capacity of the winery and even changing the main Route 9 entrance to the vineyard. Despite claims made at township hearings, Mike Halpern said the couple’s intentions for the former Trop’s Tree Farm have been clear since the beginning.
When Upper Township brought in its own legal counsel and sided with the neighbors, the Halperns conceded by giving up their tasting room ambitions and focusing on producing wine for distribution and consumption off site.
Neighbors have said they are worried about the environmental impact of growing grapes. Residents also say they fear their charming residential village will be overrun with commercialization by out-of-town interests.
“To allow a tree farm to transform into a winery would jeopardize the health and safety of the residents, and is too great a deviation from the zoning law and master plan of the township,” stated a complaint from the neighbors read at the Nov. 22, 2021 Township Committee meeting.
Joe Falls, one of the neighbors who resides on Bayaire Road, predicted “more people coming to this neighborhood,” in comments to Township Committee. “Definitely with Pennsylvania people,” he said with a chuckle. “You know who occupies Ocean City. You know what happens.”
“You would think that these people care where their money comes from,” said Halpern, responding to Falls’ words. “It’s just smart business.”
“The tree farm was idyllic,” neighbor Karolann Kemenosh told Upper Township Committee at that meeting. “It was absolutely magical to be next to a tree farm. Now it is nothing but magical.”
Halpern told Shore Local News that he and his wife have been victims of vandalism, threats and trespassing on their property. Their lawyer has been dealing with these situations.
“All I want is to live in peace and not be afraid for my family,” said Halpern. “This behavior is so vindictive. I don’t think they’ll stop until we are forced out of town.”
A decision on whether the farm can be used for producing wine has moved from the township to the Cape May County Agriculture Development Board. Bell said they expect the board to approve the application. The wine produced at the Beesleys Point farm would be sent to the William Heritage Winery in Haddonfield and other South Jersey tasting rooms for consumption. Any previous plans for a tasting room in Upper Township have been scrapped.
The fight isn’t over just yet. The neighbors have reported Halpern to the state Department of Environmental Protection over spraying his land with harmful chemicals and pesticides.
Halpern says that he is applying simple, lawful scientific farming methods, but there’s been no word from the DEP on the status of the claims.
“We have lost thousands of dollars and been abused by the neighbors, the township and more. We don’t deserve this wrath. Please, please stop harassing us,” said Halpern.
The winery’s site-specific agricultural management plan will be on the Upper Township Planning Board agenda 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, in Township Hall, 2100 Tuckahoe Road in Petersburg.
