30 Residents, 3 Hours Of Objections Over Allen Road Manufacturing Building Application

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Thirty more residents objected over a three-hour span last week to Signature Acquisitions, LLC's application to remove an existing office building and build two new buildings for light industrial/manufacturing and office space off Allen Road in Bernards Township.

"This warehouse. This giant impersonal structure threatens to strip away the very heart of our community. Our peace. The character of our street. The clean air our children breathe. It's all at stake," said resident Shaifali Patel, who was shaking as she spoke at the Oct. 17 Board of Adjustment meeting.

Patel referred to a song by Cinderella "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)."

"That's exactly what I felt today. This is more than just a building it's a choice about who we are and what we value. Do we prioritize this faceless corporation over the people who are sitting here who built this community?" Patel questioned the zoning board members.

This is the second hearing where residents were able to fully express their feelings on the proposed project since the application was first heard in early 2023.

Forty residents previously voiced their opposition to the application at the Oct. 9 Zoning Board meeting. Read More: Droves Of Residents Object To Allen Road Manufacturing Building In Basking Ridge

Signature is proposing to remove the existing 174,546-square-foot office building and build two new buildings at 150 Allen Road. The new buildings would consist of 97,185 square feet of light-industrial/manufacturing space and 30,792 square feet of office space.

There would also be 16 trailer loading spaces and 328 parking spaces.

A Ridge High School sophomore also spoke at the meeting on behalf of students and new drivers about having tractor-trailers on the roadway.

"This traffic isn't just an inconvenience, it's a serious safety issue, especially for new drivers like me," said the student. "With these new drivers on the road, it is going to be extremely scary for them to navigate these small roads of Basking Ridge, let alone, with hundreds of trucks around them that are massive. That’s going to be extremely dangerous and cause so many accidents."

Signature Acquisitions is requesting a number of variances as part of their application including max building height, max floor area ratio, replacement of trees and more.

Resident Tom Fitzsimons told the Board to deny the application "because there is no demonstration of hardship and there is a public detriment, not a public good."

"Once you allow a warehouse and manufacturing facility into town there is no going back," said resident Susan Morra. "You as a part of the Township administration and our town are facing a crossroads of either maintaining or losing control of development. The Board has the option of supporting the residents or supporting industry. You will be remembered by the decision here based on its impact to the future of our town."

The meeting concluded after 10:30 p.m. and will be carried to Nov. 14 at 7:30 p.m. where summations from three lawyers will be heard. Objector attornies will speak first followed by the applicant counsel before the Board can deliberate and vote.

For more information on the proposed project click here.

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