Hundreds Fill Ridge PAC To Discuss Quarry Plans

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — It was another very late night for the Bernards Township Committee as hundreds of residents filled the Ridge PAC to express their opinions on the proposed Quarry Redevelopment Plan Tuesday night.

The meeting began at 8 p.m. continued on until just before midnight. The majority of the meeting included a presentation by the developer Community Investment Partners and public comment.

Anthony Sblendorio, a local resident and owner of Community Investment Partners, made the presentation to the public with Dave Placek delving more into the proposed plan, the benefits and how they came up with their decisions.

The plan calls for redevelopment of the former Tilton Millington Quarry to turn it into a mixed-use area complete with an organic farm, trails, townhouse units, single-family homes, a hotel, office space, retail and an amphitheater and boardwalk along the lake.

The presentation, which lasted about an hour, irritated some residents that yelled out at times asking Sblendorio to wrap it up so they could speak.

“We are excited to hear feedback to work towards a future of the site so it doesn’t end up being something you don’t want,” Sblendorio said, followed by sarcastic laughter from the audience.

More than 25 residents spoke with the majority voicing their opposition to the project. One resident who spoke was Sblendorio’s wife. She expressed her family’s experience as a result of the town’s frustration towards the project.

“I am hear to tell you this last month has been ridiculously hard for my family,” Maria Sblendorio said. “ We stepped in because we thought it was the right thing to do… we thought it would be really great for this town.”

However, not everyone was happy with the proposed project and took it out on the Sblendorio’s family.

“I was ripped apart on the Basking Ridge moms group and got anonymous letters sent to our home. I know why our kids get bullied now,” Maria said.

She continued to insist Anthony is transparent and open to questions and comments about the project. She offered her email and cell phone number publicly for anyone to reach out.

“I don’t know how more open and transparent we can be,” she said. “It seems like you are damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”

The developers are also hosting meetings for the public to ask questions on Thursday and Monday from 7 to 9 p.m. in the Warren Craft Meeting Room at Town Hall.

Other residents who spoke suggested the township purchase the property and turn it into open space.

Former mayor and President of the Bernards Township Chamber of Commerce Al LiCata noted that there is already about 2 million sq. ft. of available office space that needs to be filled between Basking Ridge and Bernardsville. He asked why the township would create more.

“I am dead set against rezoning this property,” LiCata said. “We need to try to get the money for open space. Buy it, seal it off as open space… This is bad for Bernards, stop, take a deep breath and see what residents are saying.”

The audience applauded and whistled in response to LiCata's comments.

Others expressed worries about adding more housing, overcrowding the school system, putting strain on the volunteer fire and EMS companies, creating more traffic and creating more noise and light pollution.

“Why do we need another hotel? We are not Atlantic City when you over develop more than a few of them go belly up,” said resident Eric Russell.

Mayor Carolyn Gaziano tried to answer all of the questions asked during the public portion and noted that the discussion on this project would continue for as long as necessary.

Committeewoman Carol Bianchi noted she was not in favor of this project and feels it is “too big for our town.”

The next committee meeting will be on Dec. 12 back in town hall where discussions will continue on the quarry redevelopment plan.

• See Related: Residents Not Happy With Proposed Quarry Plan In Basking Ridge

(Image via Anthony Sblendorio making a presentation at the Bernards Township Committee Meeting Tuesday night at Ridge PAC)

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