Sierra Club Opposes Basking Ridge's Quarry Plan

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — The New Jersey Sierra Club has come out against Bernard Township's proposed Quarry Redevelopment Plan for the 183-acre Millington Quarry off Stonehouse Road.

The club sent out a press release Tuesday voicing its opposition to the plan that includes a hotel, housing, restaurants, retail, a farm and a lake. The opposition stems from concerns of contamination and over development.

“We oppose this project because we are concerned about the contamination and that the project is too large for the site. Given the history of the property, we are concerned it is not cleaned up properly for residential development. The town needs to go back and plan for the site so that it is first properly cleaned up and restored and then come up for a proposal for development that would fit in with the character of the community. We should not be be pushing for such a large development on a superfund site," said Jeff Tittel, Director of the New Jersey Sierra Club.

Tittel goes on to suggest that Bernards Township create a cleanup plan for the quarry, with input from the town.

"There are contaminants at the site, in both the soil and water, and no one wants to see Basking Ridge become a toxic community,” said Gary Frederick, a Sierra Club organizer who is also chair of its New Jersey Raritan Valley Group. “The risk of pollutants running into the Passiac River and affecting nearby communities is also very real.”

Additionally the NJ Sierra Club is also proposing a resolution calling for a halt to redevelopment without an approved cleanup plan.

To view the club's full statement and resolution click here.

The township committee announced during the Tuesday night meeting, that the fate of the Quarry Redevelopment project will be decided at a committee meeting on Jan. 24 at Ridge PAC at 7 p.m.

Bernards Township Mayor John Carpenter told residents that there will be a discussion to terminate the Quarry Redevelopment Concept Plan draft.

A copy of the resolution addressing the quarry redevelopment plan will be available on bernards.org on Jan. 19 prior to the meeting for residents to review.

• See Related: Fate Of Quarry Redevelopment Plan To Be Decided Jan. 24

(Image via STQP)

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