Basking Ridge Housing Project Discussions On Hold Until April

Basking Ridge, NJ -- A five-home development project slated for Valley Road was met with opposition and questions by neighboring residents on Jan. 19.

The Bernards Township Planning Board meeting lasted just over three hours leaving no decision made on the project. Board member John Malay was also asked to recuse himself from the project as a resident questioned his intentions.

James Pruskowski, a Basking Ridge resident, claimed Malay possibly had an “economic interest in project.” Pruskowski pointed to a local newspaper that quoted Malay as saying he would “pull some strings” for the project.

Malay denied these claims. The board took a short recess to look into the claims.

After a short break, the board attorney asked Pruskowski if he believed Malay could keep an open mind on the project.

Pruskowski didn’t think so.

The attorney advised, “when in doubt, get out.”

Malay was then excused from the board on the “appearance of conflict.”

During the meeting developers Bell, Christopher and CC Edwards Developers, LLC brought in three experts to speak on their updated project proposal for the site -- a professional planner, civil engineer and storm water expert.

There was only time for the professional planner and civil engineer to speak as public comments and questions took up a large chunk of the meeting.

The original project had one home near Valley and the rest near the rear of the property. The updated proposal moves all five homes to the back of the lot closer to Mount Airy Road and away from Valley Road.

The homes could be as large as 3,712 sq. ft. and would be positioned around a cul-de-sac that would be created and paved as part of the project.

Marisa Taormina, who lives directly behind the proposed project on Mount Airy Road, brought in photos and her own map to question the developers as she is in opposition of the project.

Specifically she pointed to the proposed buffer of two rows of evergreen trees that would be planted. She questioned how the developers would implement this plan while not distrubing existing trees.

Another neighbor Gerald Elson, who lives near the project, questioned the storm water situation as the project is being built near a wetlands area.

No final decision was made on the project and discussions along with the storm water expert will speak and continue at the next meeting which is slated for April 5 at 7:30 p.m. at borough hall.

(Photo, The new proposed project showing all five homes pushed away from Valley Road to the rear of the property)