Petition Launched To Stop Quarry Plan In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Residents in Basking Ridge have come together to form a community-based organization against the proposed redevelopment plan at the defunct Millington Quarry.

The group called Friends of Stop the Quarry Plan, LLC (Friends of STQP) has started a petition to keep the current zoning in place at the quarry property until rehabilitation and environmental remediation of the property is complete and before any development plans are considered.

"Friends of STQP is extremely concerned that the long planned 50-acre lake (i.e., surface water body) will not be properly investigated, tested and monitored to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public," the group stated.

The petition was signed by homeowners within 200 feet of the Millington Quarry and submitted to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) requesting additional public outreach by the The Licensed Site Remediation Professional to discuss how the serious environmental issues will be addressed.

So far 694 residents have signed the petition out of the 1,500 goal. View the petition here.

"Before Bernards Township proceeds with adoption of an ordinance to create a high-density lakefront community, Friends of STQP requests that the NJDEP confirm whether the impact of the 45 acres of contamination upon the 50-acre lake requires further investigation, testing and/or monitoring," the group stated.

STQP is requesting the township committee to table its redevelopment plan and start over "using a real public process, with open public hearings before the Planning Board, so that the entire community can meaningfully discuss a strategy for no or small-scale, responsible development after remediation, and one that preserves the small-town quality of life we love about Basking Ridge."

In addition to the petition Friends of STQP has started a fundraising page to help offset its legal, expert and communication costs.

For more information visit www.stopthequrryplan.com and contact info@stopthequarryplan.com.

(Image via STQP)

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