Hillsborough Denies Warehouse Proposed For Homestead Road

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — After two years of hearings, plan changes and testimony, the proposed plan to build a 132,750-square-foot warehouse at 279 Homestead Road was denied by the Hillsborough Planning Board last week.

The vote on Sept. 12 followed a request by the applicant Homestead 279 LLC(and developer Redcom Design and Construction) to adjourn the hearing until April 3, 2025.

The decision to request the adjournment followed comments from board professionals and also that "the applicant is exploring alternative uses for the site other than the warehouse. Townhouses are being explored," said DeLuca at the meeting.

This isn't the first time the plan for this property was revised. Homestead 279 LLC amended its plan in March 2023 and again in January 2024 following comments from the Planning Board.

Sandro Iannella of Iannella Masonry Construction in Hillsborough, whose property is nearby and an objector of the project, asked the Planning Board to vote on the application as it currently is presented to the Board.

"I have been forced to spend a considerable amount of time and money on the objector to protect my property," said Iannella at the meeting. "Tonight I am supposed to be at my daughter’s Back-to-School night and I can’t even be there because I’m here again after two years."

Iannella reminded the Board that Redcom was told at the previous meeting they must either submit new plans at least 30 days prior to the Sept. 12 meeting or withdraw their application. And they neither.

"I ask that since Redcom has once again disrespected the Planning Board by not addressing the standing issues for this upcoming meeting, following through on the required soil testing and submitting a new revised plan, the Board render a decision at tonight’s meeting here … and stop allowing them to continue this mockery and farce," said Iannella.

Township Committeeman and Planning Board member Shawn Lipani said he saw no real benefit to granting any further extension to Redcom.

"The fact that you are coming here today. That you’re asking for an adjournment to again April of next year, of 2025 - to me is disingenuous and quite honestly unfair to the objector, to the public and to this Board who have put time and hours and patience into this application," said Lipani.

Lipani added that even if Redcom came back with a different plan for the property they would probably have to resubmit a new application anyway and most likely go before the Zoning Board.

Board member Patricia Smith agreed with Lipani's comments.

"I see no point in giving an extension to something that will not be in front of us in April so I don't see any point in giving any extension on this," said Smith.

The Planning Board ultimately voted to deny the adjournment to April and then voted to deny the application as it presently stands in front of them.

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