Resident Group Opposes Proposed Manufacturing Buildings In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — An application looking to demolish an existing office building and build two new buildings for light industrial/manufacturing and office space in Bernards Township is set to be heard on Wednesday.

The application by Signature Acquisitions LLC for the 28.256 acres property at 150 Allen Road will be heard by the Board of Adjustment in the Warren Craft Meeting Room on Aug. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

The proposed plan is to demolish the existing 174,546-square-foot office building with roughly 855 parking spaces.

Then two new buildings are proposed to be built:

• 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.

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.

The group claims the proposed use is disruptive and incongruent with the community.

"Especially concerning are: Truck traffic and road safety in residential areas and school zone routes; environmental issues including destruction of 400-plus trees, disturbance to wetlands, threatened species, and flooding; noise, air, and light pollution; excessive building coverage of 40 percent more than allowable footprint, high retainer walls and surface lighting, reduced setbacks; potential to lower property values," according to protectsomersethills.org.

Truck traffic concerns were previously raised in January by two Zoning Board members. Read More: Truck Traffic Concerns Raised Over Manufacturing Building In Bernards

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