Bernards wants to eliminate the use of lightweight products in the community

BASKING RIDGE, NJ – The Township Committee is taking swift action to remove light industrial as a permitted use after the Zoning Board rejected Signature Acquisitions, LLC’s application on Allen Road.

“This action will protect our community from an industry that is not aligned with the needs and desires of our community,” Mayor Jennifer Asay said at the Nov. 26 Town Board meeting.

The committee unanimously passed an ordinance eliminating lightweight manufacturing as a permitted use in the township.

The township Zoning Board of Adjustment on Nov. 14 denied Signature’s application to remove an existing office building and construct two new light industrial/manufacturing buildings and office space on Allen Road, citing D-4 variance issues , which apparently went beyond the permissible floor area ratio (FAR) from 15 percent to 19.83 percent. Read more: Basking Ridge rejects development application from Allen Road Manufacturing

“I want to commend the zoning board for killing the light industrial factory advocated for the Allen Road area,” said resident Harvey Gerhard. “I think light industry doesn’t belong in our city. I think our city’s infrastructure cannot tolerate light industry as we have seen the number of tractor-trailers being pushed would really hurt school children and neighborhoods in general.”

Resident Yassaman Azizi also noted that the area was previously earmarked for light industry as no one lived there.

“Now several families live there – small children, elderly people. I don’t think something like this should be allowed in this area. We need to change this zoning as quickly as possible,” Azizi said.

Asay said zoning allowing light industry was originally introduced in the 1960s.

“It is clear that this zoning, which is still in effect 60 years later, no longer represents appropriate land use regulation in this area,” Asay said. “At that time, most of what currently exists, such as the Hills development, Fellowship Village, Shannon Hill and others, had not yet been built.”

The township committee, along with attorney John Belardo and staff, worked quickly to introduce the ordinance on Nov. 26, “which is in the best interest of our community.”

“Therefore, we took swift action at the very first township committee meeting held following the Board of Adjustment’s denial decision,” Asay said.

Committeewoman Ana Duarte McCarthy noted that the community is located along the Interstates 80 and 287 corridor, making it an attractive location for access to the Port Newark Marine Terminal.

“We are removing light industrial from the list of permitted uses in the E2 Office Zone, which will hopefully help reduce the potential for storage in this community,” McCarthy said. “I see our role as stewards of this community as helping to preserve what is wonderful about it and supporting responsible development.”

Many committee members also thanked residents for their comments during zoning committee meetings on the Allen Road application.

“We are truly blessed to be in a community where people care about what happens here,” said Deputy Mayor Janice Fields. “I am so proud of our community. The process has now worked, we’re just going to go one step further.”

A public hearing on the ordinance’s second and final reading will be held at the Dec. 10 Town Board meeting.

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