Colts Neck advances cottage food rules and limits e-bike use on preserves and trails

Township planner Tim Ann Fuso told the committee April 8 that the proposed cottage food ordinance is intended as a "sister ordinance" to the home-occupation rules and mirrors the state's cottage-kitchen approach: residents may prepare and sell non-perishable homemade foods after obtaining a state license and registering locally, but onsite sales at the preparer's home would be prohibited.

"What this is, it's basically the way I like to think of it, is a sister ordinance to our home occupation ordinance," Fuso said, summarizing conditions including no non-resident employees, no exterior signage, and that deliveries be handled by common carriers.

Committee members generally supported advancing the ordinance for introduction, with the committee scheduling the item for an April 29 introduction and noting a biennial water-sample requirement tied to state licensure.

Fuso also reviewed a separate, state-limited ordinance to regulate motorized bicycles, low-speed electric scooters and e-bikes on township property. Because the 2005 state law primarily preempts local definitions and operation rules, the proposed local ordinance focuses narrowly on municipal property: e-bikes and scooters would be allowed in municipal parking lots and parking-lot access roads but would be prohibited on trails, preserves and greenways.

Members asked staff to tighten the definition of "access road," to add clear signage where appropriate, and to coordinate an educational outreach program with police and the schools.

Both items were described as having broad support from the long-range planning committee; the committee unanimously agreed to advance them to an introduction hearing on April 29 for further review and possible adoption.