Objectors Of Allen Road Manufacturing Buildings Set To Testify In Basking Ridge

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Hearings on Signature Acquisitions, LLC's revised application to remove an existing office building and build two new buildings for light industrial/manufacturing and office space in Bernards Township will continue into July.

The Bernards Township Zoning Board of Adjustment held another long meeting, almost 4-hours, on May 16 for the application.

During the hearing, objectors representing Fellowship Village and also the Bernards Township Board of Education(BOE) along with residents expressed concerns regarding school traffic, tractor-trailer parking, and community impact.

The meeting ended with Signature completing its case. Objectors with legal representation will now have a chance to present their own case.

The hearing will continue on June 13 at 7:30 p.m. and also in July when an attorney for Fellowship Village will share their case aginst the application. The Zoning Board noted it would keep the public updated on when public comment would most likely be heard.

Revised Plans

At the April 11 meeting, Signature presented a revised version of their proposal to remove the existing 174,546-square-foot office building and build two new buildings.

The changes include:

• Reduction of the floor area of the two buildings from 258,528 square feet in total for both buildings to 244,128 square feet or a just over 14,000 square feet reduction
• Reduced the size of the primary light manufacturing by 34 linear feet
• Reduced the number of loading bays from 12 on each building, for total of 24, reduced to 16 or 8 bays per building
• Added signage for trucks leaving the property. The signage would restrict trucks from making right turns to adjacent lots and instead directing them to exit through the Allen Road main entrance (with the exception of box trucks or delivery trucks)
• Limiting tractor-trailer traffic. No outgoing tractor-trailer traffic will be allowed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (with the exception of box trucks or delivery trucks)
• Reduced height of buildings to be in compliance with township regulations from 52.6 feet to 48 feet

The application is still seeking a number of variances including setback for a building canopy from a residential zone; Disturbance of areas with slopes; Maximum restaining wall height; replacement of trees; and others.

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