Proposed Manufacturing Buildings Hearing To Continue In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — An application by Signature Acquisitions, LLC - an existing office building and build two new buildings for light industrial/manufacturing and office space in Bernards Township - will continue in September.

The Bernards Township Zoning Board of Adjustment heard the application at its meeting on Wednesday night but was not able to complete the hearing.

The application by Signature Acquisitions LLC for the 28.256 acres property at 150 Allen Road will be continued at the Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting on Sept. 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Warren Craft Meeting Room.

The two new buildings proposed to be built include:

• Building A which consists of 97,185 square feet of light-industrial/manufacturing space and 30,792 square feet of office space (total of 127,9777 square feet)
• Building B consists of 101,792 square feet of light-industrial/manufacturing space and 28,759 square feet of office space (total of 130,551 square feet)

There would also be 24 trailer loading spaces proposed, 105 existing parking spaces will remain, 88 spaces will be located under Building A and 89 spaces will be located under Building B.

Questions arose during the almost 4-hour meeting about the number of loading docks, lighting, driveway access and removal of trees.

One objector's attorney Rob Simon noted that the tree removal plan calls for 417 trees to be removed from the site out of 548 trees that were surveyed.

When Simon asked if that meant the removal of 76 percent of trees, the applicant disagreed.

The applicant noted that the 548 trees did not include the entire amount of trees on the site and only includes the surveyed trees in the development footprint.

Discussion over the changing market in terms of leasing and vacancy was also discussed.

"There is a lot of concern that 6 months down the line that once I get my approval from you guys that I am gonna invite some strictly warehouse user to come in and lease half the space as a strictly warehouse operation," said Director of Leasing for Signature Acquisitions Richard Travaglini.

"We live in this community, we work in this community, we have other projects here in town... we are members of the community, we pay an awful lot of taxes, we are here to stay. And again we will make every effort to stay within the lines that you guys have laid out in your zone plan," said Travaglini.

The Sept. 14 meeting will begin with objectors and the public being able to question Travaglini on his testimony followed by questioning of Signature Aquistion's architect. If there is time the applicant's traffic expert will then testify.

Since the application was initially presented earlier this year, several residents have organized a group, Protect Somerset Hills (PSH), to challenge the overdevelopment of commercial properties in the Somerset Hills area.

"Our goal is to protect the character and safety of our communities, our quality of life, our historical culture, our natural environment, and our future," according to protectsomersethills.org.

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