Attorney Hired To Fight Weston Warehouse Proposal By Hillsborough 55+ Community

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Residents of the 55+ community, Hearthstone of Hillsborough, have hired an attorney to represent them against a large warehouse application on Weston Road.

Jordan Asch, who has recently joined Riker Danzig LLP in Morristown, is representing the entire Hearthstone of Hillsborough homeowner's association, which consists of 185 families.

Residents had previously aired their opposition to the Hillsborough Mayor and Council at a November meeting.

Asch previously represented the Green Hills Community in Hillsborough against a proposal by applicant Harvard Way JMJ4, LLC (Redcom / SAI) who was looking to construct a 107,366 sq. ft. warehouse at the end of Harvard Way off Route 206. That application was ultimately denied by the Hillsborough Planning Board in October 2022. Read More: Warehouse Application Denied By Hillsborough Planning Board

Michael O'Grodnick, an attorney in Somerville, is representing the applicant Weston Road LLC, of Franklin Park and updated the Hillsborough Planning Board on the site plans at the Feb. 2 meeting.

The applicant had initially been looking to build a 135,000-square-foot warehouse building with stormwater, parking, and associated improvements on 18.2 acres - which was previously the township's landfill.

O'Grodnick now says, "the project is being completely redesigned."

Updated renderings and site plans would be sent to the planning board when completed. He also added that the applicant has identified a tenant for the building - Miracle Brands.

"They import mainly towels and sheets from the Middle East. Mainly from India and Pakistan and then the intent is to warehouse the linens and sheets," said O'Grodnick.

Miracle Brands' business is primarily online-based, said O'Grodnick.

Asch objected to the hearing since the site plans were being completely redesigned and asked the board not to proceed.

Township Planning Director David Kois raised concerns about not having enough information in terms of knowing the operations of the use of the building and the height of the building.

"In terms of testimony that has been provided it's disjointed. To not have this information. It's not all matching up," said Kois.

Mayor Shawn Lipani agreed with Kois's sentiments.

"In all due respect, I don't think it is the right time to proceed with this… I think the application is not prepared properly to proceed in my opinion," said Lipani.

The Planning Board agreed to reschedule the hearing to March 23, with the condition that all updated site plans including operation details of the building, would be submitted to the township no later than Friday, March 10.

"If they don't intend to produce an amended plan by the 10th then they are going forward with the application as it currently exists," said Hillsborough Planning Board Attorney Eric Bernstein.

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