Millington Quarry Looks To Divide Land Due To Contamination

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Millington Quarry Inc.(MQI) is once again looking to subdivide the 179-acre property on Stonehouse Road into two separate lots which would separate the contaminated portion.

The variance application will be heard before the zoning board on Wednesday, Sept. 4. The public will have an opportunity to comment on the proposal before a vote is made.

The proposal is drawing concerns from a group of local residents called Stop The Quarry Plan (STQP) who are urging residents to come and speak out and ask questions about the proposal during the public hearing.

MQI had initially applied for a subdivision variance in October 2018 with a public hearing scheduled for March but pulled back the application. A revised plan was then submitted on June 14.

The proposed plan looks to subdivide the property into two lots — a 50 acre and a 129 acre lot. The 50-acre portion would contain "a portion of the property that has been the subject of environmental remediation."

Due to its current status the 50-acre lot would be restricted on its use and need New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's approval.

MQI is hoping that by separating the two portions it will allow for progress in the future planning and development on the portion that does not require environmental remediation.

Most recently Somerset County Judge Thomas Miller ordered MQI in April to submit an updated and revised rehabilitation plan to the township. There was no timeline set as to when plans needed to be in place. (See Related: Millington Quarry Ordered To Submit Updated Rehabilitation Plan)

The variance hearing will be held during the zoning board meeting at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 4 in the Bernards Township Municipal Building, Warren Craft Meeting Room, 1 Collyer Lane, in Basking Ridge.

The quarry property remains a hotly contested subject in the township after residents spoke out against a controversial redevelopment concept plan and new zoning proposal for the property that called for a hotel, housing, restaurants, retail stores, a farm and a lake in October 2017. (See Related: Residents Not Happy With Proposed Quarry Plan In Basking Ridge)

The opposition from residents stemmed from concerns of contamination and over development. The township committee ended up rejecting the plan in January 2018 as a result. (See Related: Basking Ridge Rejects Quarry Plan)

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