Politics & Government
Millington Quarry Files Lawsuit Against Bernards Township
MQI claims the creation of the newly formed Bernards Township Quarry Advisory Task Force violates an earlier settlement with the township.
BASKING RIDGE, NJ — A lawsuit filed against Bernards Township by Millington Quarry Inc.(MQI) is the latest in the ongoing saga for control over the 179-acre property on Stonehouse Road.
MQI filed the suit on March 13 claiming the creation of the newly formed Bernards Township Quarry Advisory Task Force violates an April 29, 2014 legal settlement where only an Oversight Subcommittee was allowed to be formed to address any issues concerning the implementation of the last approved plan — the 2011 Millington Quarry Rehabilitation Plan.
Instead, the Task Force, formed in January of this year, is doing what the subcommittee was supposed to do — which is to "review and report back to the Township Committee with their findings, any concerns, and recommendations, regarding MQI's compliance with implementing the last approved plan."
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A hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled to be heard before Judge Thomas Miller on Friday, March 29 at 9 a.m. at the Somerset County Courthouse, 20 North Bridge St., Somerville. Mark Morgan of Parsippany is representing MQI in the suit.
Bernards Township and Morgan did not immediately respond to Patch for comment on the lawsuit.
Find out what's happening in Basking Ridgefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The controversy over the quarry property came under fire following a redevelopment concept plan and new zoning proposal for the property that called for a hotel, housing, restaurants, retail stores, a farm and a lake. (See Related: Residents Not Happy With Proposed Quarry Plan In Basking Ridge)
The opposition from residents stemmed from concerns of contamination and over development. Residents even formed a Stop The Quarry Plan (STQP) group to oppose the plans. The township committee ended up rejecting the plan last January as a result. (See Related: Basking Ridge Rejects Quarry Plan)
STQP is encouraging residents to attend the hearing on March 29 and have created an event. For more information click here.
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