'Stop The Quarry' Plans Protest At Tuesday's Committee Meeting

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — "Stop the Quarry Plan" or STQP opponents are planning a "peaceful protest" Tuesday before the committee meeting.

The Bernards Township Committee claimed they would be discussing scheduling future meeting dates for the Quarry Redevelopment, yet nothing has been scheduled, causing STQP to plan the protest.

The protest will begin at 6:30 p.m. and the township committee meeting will follow at 8 p.m. at Bernards Township Municipal Court, 1 Collyers Lane.

The township stated in a release that at the Jan. 2 reorganization meeting "further review of Quarry Redevelopment will be scheduled." However, nothing was scheduled.

Scheduling of quarry dates is also not slated for discussion on the Jan. 9 meeting agenda either.

The controversial quarry redevelopment plan was last discussed at the Nov. 28 meeting where hundreds of residents expressed their opinion of the plan — the majority were not in favor of it.

The quarry discussions were then removed from the Dec. 12 meeting due to significant public interest and lack of space to accommodate everyone.

A proposed plan to schedule future meetings has not be made causing opponents of the plan "STQP" to host a peaceful protest. Protesters are encouraged to bring signs.

"It's your right to press for answers. It's your right to have input and be heard," STQP posted on its website.

The proposed plan for the Millington Quarry property off Stone house Road call for the area to be divided into four districts — Agritourism and Recreation District, Cottage Residential District, Mixed Residential District and Mixed Use District.

The Agritourism and Recreation District would include an organic farm and trails along with a 15,000-square-foot restaurant overlooking the lake.

The Cottage Residential District will include 28 units of townhouses and 47 single-family detached
dwellings. The Mixed Residential District will include 30 units of flats and 45 units of townhouses.

Lastly, the Mixed Use District will include a hotel/rental suite that will have between 100 to 250 sleeping rooms/suites, 60,000 square feet of office space, 140,000 square feet of retail space, 50 apartment units, 35 units of affordable apartments.

Additionally, along the lake's water edge there is a proposed boardwalk with amphitheater for the public to use for community events.

• See Related: Residents Not Happy With Proposed Quarry Plan In Basking Ridge
• See Related: Hundreds Fill Ridge PAC To Discuss Quarry Plans
• See Related: Quarry Project Will Not Be Discussed Until 2018

For more information on Stop the Quarry Plan visit stopthequarryplan.com.

(Rendering of draft Quarry Redevelopment Concept Plan)

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