Document library

What to look for

The Board voted to approve on May 19, 2026, 7-0. The resolution is on file with the Board Secretary at the Engineering Services Building, 277 South Maple Avenue.

What to look for

• The history (pp. 1-2): the Jan. 29, 2025 filing, the challenges by Fair Share Housing Center and the New Jersey Builders Association, the April 8, 2025 order setting 24 and 198, and a consent order “on December 17, 2025” on conditions of compliance.
• Obligations (p. 4): present need 24, Prior Round 508, Third Round 873, Fourth Round prospective need 198.
• Repose (pp. 3-4): ten years, July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2035.
• Monitoring (pp. 4-5): yearly reports from Feb. 15, 2026 on trust-fund money and units built.
• Midpoint review (pp. 5-6): as of July 1, 2030, for inclusionary sites without preliminary site plan approval.

Signed for the township by John P. Belardo and for Fair Share Housing Center by Joshua D. Bauers. LocalWhy read a scanned copy.

What to look for

• The date of the conditional order: this text says Jan. 8, 2026, where the introduction notice said Dec. 19, 2025.
• What changes: the new state rules (N.J.A.C. 5:99 and 5:80-26) govern where older Code sections 21-76, 21-85 and 21-86 conflict.

What to look for

• The conditions: a spending plan before March 15, 2026; updated affordable-housing and development-fee ordinances and an affirmative marketing plan; ordinances adopted by March 10, 2026; a final consent order by April 15, 2026.
• The date: this notice says Judge Mennen issued the conditional order “on December 19, 2025.” The adopted ordinance (March 11 notice) says Jan. 8, 2026, and the court’s final order refers to a consent order on Dec. 17, 2025.

What to look for

• Table 3 (pp. 10-11): the credits: Ridge Oak IV 29, Westgate Village 160.5 (115 units plus 45.5 bonus), Our House 8, Braemar 10, and one each at 18 Columbia Road and Crown Court II; 209.5 in all, a surplus of 11.5.
• Present need (p. 9): 15 of the 24 rehabilitation units already done; the rest through township and county programs.
• Braemar: the table lists 10 credits; the text heads the project “9 of 10 beds.”
• The Highlands (p. 14): the Westgate site is in the Highlands Planning Area, but the township is not a conforming Highlands municipality.
• Ridge Oak IV schedule: construction anticipated to begin in fall 2027.

What to look for

• The numbers: the state’s Oct. 18, 2024 estimate of 24 present and 218 prospective need, and the township’s 171.
• The planner’s memo: Kendra Lelie’s finding that the state’s land-capacity data was “overinclusive.”
• Reservations: the township “reserves the right to adjust its position should it participate under the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act.”

The obligation was later set at 198 by mediation (Res. #2025-0195, 3-2, March 25, 2025) and court order (April 8, 2025).

What to look for

• The definitions now sit in § 21-3.1, as the Planning Board recommended on June 16.
• The votes: an amendment adding the Board’s recommendation and a 4-0 adoption, as the minutes record them. The same text is printed in the June 23, 2026 Committee minutes.

What to look for

• The definition: colocation, cloud computing, server farms, cryptocurrency mining and wholesale digital infrastructure, with exclusions for incidental server rooms and small accessory facilities.
• The limits on accessory facilities: 20% of floor area or 10,000 sq ft, 2 megawatts of critical IT load, no dedicated substation, 3 megawatts of standby generation.

As adopted June 23, the definitions were moved into § 21-3 on the Planning Board’s recommendation.

What to look for

The same hearing, study and non-condemnation terms as the Oct. 1, 2026 notice.

What to look for

• The engineers’ testimony on keeping Fellowship Village’s stormwater design, page 2.
• The closed-session resolution, page 4.
• Meeting summary: Planning Board, October 6, 2026.

What to look for

• The study: “Block 3101, Lots 2 & 3, Area in Need of Redevelopment Study,” prepared by Burgis Associates, Inc. for the Planning Board, on file with the Board Secretary and the Township Clerk.
• No eminent domain: a designation “shall not authorize Bernards Township to exercise the power of eminent domain to acquire Block 3101, Lots 2 & 3.”
• Who may be heard: anyone interested or affected, “either directly or through counsel, and either orally or in writing.”

Signed by Planning Board Secretary Joanne Slaman. The hearing opened Oct. 20 and was carried to Dec. 8, 2026.

What to look for

• The straw poll and the applicant’s statement on 125 units (page 2).
• The five people who questioned the witnesses (page 2).
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, September 17, 2026.

What to look for

• The 6-1 roll call on ZB26-024 Jennings (pages 3-4).
• The South Finley appeals to be refiled as variance applications (page 2).
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, September 9, 2026.

What to look for

• The Amzak hearing, public comment and the 5-1 roll call, page 2.
• The Kearns/Vaccaro resolution, pages 3-10.
• Meeting summary: Planning Board, September 8, 2026.

What to look for

• The exemption (§ 3-21.9): residential dwelling units of every type are exempt “in their entirety.”
• Who enforces (§ 3-21.8): the Township Zoning Officer only; no private cause of action.

What to look for

• The list of Amzak exhibits and the engineer’s account of what is built, pages 2-3.
• The Board’s balcony and generator requests, page 3.
• Meeting summary: Planning Board, August 18, 2026.

What to look for

• Definitions of blight, exterior premises and nuisance.
• The rules on scaffolds, landscaping, refuse, vehicles, and paint and siding.
• Enforcement: 10-day notice, summons, fines up to $2,000, and township clean-up as a tax lien.

What to look for

• The synthetic turf discussion on ZB26-003 Rothbard (page 3).
• The ZB26-017 Clayton golf barn hearing (pages 4-5).
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, August 5, 2026.

What to look for

• The Ridge Oak memorializing resolution: the variance, the four exceptions and the conditions, from page 9.
• The Fellowship Village stormwater discussion, pages 1-2.
• Meeting summary: Planning Board, July 21, 2026.

What to look for

• The engineer’s list of revisions and the five-year bond offer in lieu of Route 202 sidewalks (pages 2-3).
• The residents who questioned each witness (pages 2-3).
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, July 16, 2026.

What to look for

• The ZB26-012 to ZB26-014 South Finley appeals (page 1).
• The Brunner, Magliaro and Khator hearings (pages 2-4).
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, July 8, 2026.

What to look for

• The portal: bernardstownshipnj.municollab.com/planning-board/projects.
• Public access: “Anyone can request an invitation to access MuniCollab, free of charge.”
• Contact: Planning Board Secretary Joanne Slaman.

What to look for

• The Ordinance #2599 referral, the Board Planner’s summary and the recommendation on definitions, page 2.
• Meeting summary: Planning Board, June 16, 2026.

What to look for

• The ZB25-011 Vesuvio witnesses and public questions (pages 2-4).
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, June 11, 2026.

What to look for

• The Kearns/Vaccaro hearing and the screening-tree condition, pages 1-2.
• The Local Redevelopment and Housing Law presentation, page 2.
• The full PB13-006C and PB22-005B resolutions, pages 3-15.
• Meeting summary: Planning Board, June 2, 2026.

What to look for

• The Fire Service Plan and the Environmental Commission memo, page 2.
• The approval motion and roll call, page 2.
• Meeting summary: Planning Board, May 19, 2026.

What to look for

• The Millington Baptist Church waivers (pages 1-2).
• The 20% affordable set-aside and other ZB25-040 testimony (pages 2-3).
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, May 14, 2026.

What to look for

• The Kraemer hearing, at which the Chair recused (page 2).
• The attached ZB25-032 resolution, with the floor-area figures.
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, May 6, 2026.

What to look for

• The Aucta decision and the as-built survey requirement, pages 1-2.
• Ridge Oak’s operations, traffic and lighting testimony and the residents who asked questions, pages 2-3.
• Meeting summary: Planning Board, May 5, 2026.

What to look for

• The applicant’s position on affordable housing (pages 1-2).
• The engineer’s list of project features and the residents who asked questions (pages 2-3).
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, April 16, 2026.

What to look for

• The ZB25-032 Church Street Properties testimony and roll call (pages 2-3).
• The attached ZB23-015 dismissal resolution.
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, April 8, 2026.

What to look for

• The engineer’s list of Ridge Oak site features (units, parking, trees, stormwater, lighting), page 3.
• The architect’s testimony on the building, pages 3-4.
• Meeting summary: Planning Board, April 7, 2026.

What to look for

• ZB25-040 deemed complete and its hearing set for April 16 (page 2).
• The Hodgkins and Fallone hearings (pages 3-5).
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, March 4, 2026.

What to look for

• The Ridge Oak completeness hearing and the will-serve letters, page 2 (the minutes print the number as ZB26-001; it is PB26-001).
• The Ordinance #2593 referral and Board Planner Fahey’s summary, pages 2-3.
• Meeting summary: Planning Board, March 3, 2026.

What to look for

• The ZB25-040 131 Morristown Rd LLC completeness discussion and waivers (page 2).
• Neighbours’ questions on the ZB25-011 Vesuvio pool (pages 3-4).
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, February 4, 2026.

What to look for

• Oaths of office and the election of officers, pages 1-2.
• Res. #26-01 (Board Engineer) and #26-02 (Board Attorney), attached as scanned pages 6-9, with their not-to-exceed amounts; Res. #26-03 (2026 calendar) and #26-04 (rules).
• The Fellowship Village hearings, pages 3-4, and the vote to hire the Board Planner, page 5.
• Meeting summary: Planning Board, January 20, 2026.

What to look for

• Oaths, officers and appointments (pages 1-3), and Resolutions #26-03 to #26-05 attached.
• The ZB25-031 New Testament Ministries interpretation (pages 5-6).
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, January 7, 2026.

What to look for

• The 4-1 roll call on ZB25-029 Borsuk (page 5).
• The neighbors’ questions on ZB25-028 at 24 Ash Street (page 4).
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, December 3, 2025.

What to look for

• The adjournment of PB13-006C, Fellowship Village’s annual parking report, on page 1.
• The executive session on the Board’s 2026 professionals and the vote that followed, pages 1-2.
• Meeting summary: Planning Board, December 2, 2025.

What to look for

• The roll calls for ZB25-026 Shah, ZB25-030 Stoddard and ZB25-024 Bond (pages 2-4).
• The attached resolutions for ZB25-014, ZB25-023, ZB25-022 and ZB25-025, with each property’s variance figures.
• Meeting summary: Zoning Board of Adjustment, November 5, 2025.

What to look for

• The proposal: Building A (127,977 sq ft) and Building B (130,551 sq ft), 258,528 sq ft in all, later reduced to 244,128, in the E-2 Office Zone.
• The hearings: 18 hearing dates from Jan. 4, 2023 to Nov. 14, 2024; parties and “more than 70 objecting members of the public.”
• The use finding: the Board found the use to be “light manufacturing,” permitted in the E-2 zone.
• The reasons: the objectors’ planner’s testimony on the negative criteria; any hardship found self-created.
• The votes (pp. 91-92): denial 6-0 on Nov. 14, 2024; memorialization 2-0 on Feb. 5, 2025.

What to look for

• The applicant’s account of the denial: a 6-0 vote, with the floor-area (“D-4”) variance as “the sole reason given by the majority.”
• The revision: floor-area ratio reduced to 14.99% where 15% is allowed; the use variances for the driveway over the residential lot remain.
• Timing: sent before the Board adopted its resolution on Feb. 5, 2025. Revised plans (Jan. 7, 2025) and a Jan. 8, 2025 letter are in the same folder.

The court’s Sept. 29, 2026 remand, as reported by Patch and TAPinto, concerns the Board’s handling of this request.

What to look for (Bernards Twp, district 02)

• Rate parts (per $100): county 0.275; county open space 0.030; local school 1.077; municipal purposes 0.246; municipal library 0.033; general rate 1.661; effective rate 1.666; equalization ratio 100.44%.
• Amounts raised: county $27,105,472.68; county open space $2,952,922.23; local school $106,363,285.00; municipal budget $24,315,594.31; municipal library $3,261,768.37; total $163,999,042.59.
• Budget revenues: surplus $16,000,000.00; miscellaneous revenues $5,891,605.45; delinquent tax receipts $305,000.00.
• Property base: residential (Class 2) assessed value $8,909,247,100 of the $9,877,438,600 total.
• No fire district or other special-district tax is listed for Bernards.

What to look for

• Opinions: unmodified on the state regulatory basis of accounting; adverse on generally accepted accounting principles, the basis the regulatory statements do not follow.
• Current Fund balance: $24,178,670.60 at December 31, 2025 ($24,319,290.44 a year earlier); $16,000,000 of it used in the 2026 budget (Note 3).
• Debt (Note 2): gross debt $28,690,000, all school bonds, fully deducted; net debt $0; “As of 12/31/2017, the Township was completely debt free.”
• Tax rates (Note 8): 1.886 (2023), 1.779 (2024), 1.688 (2025). Collection of the 2025 levy: 99.50%.
• Comments: last tax sale October 2, 2025; seven tax title liens at the end of 2025; a suggestion to keep reviewing older grant balances; no prior-year recommendations.

What to look for

• Totals: $49,773,968 against $49,537,906 in 2025 (+0.48%); operations excluding capital, grants and reserve +4.33%; amount raised by taxation $24,315,594.30 (+3.44%); municipal rate 0.246 (−2.52% in the deck’s calculation).
• Average home: assessed $931,637.26; municipal tax $2,293.44 and library tax $307.65, together $2,601.09 (+$116.55).
• Health benefits: a 35.4% 2026 base-plan increase; employee group insurance $2,628,696.57.
• Fund balance analysis: $16,000,000 used in the budget ($12,000,000 draft use plus the $4,000,000 cap provision).
• Capital budget: $7,699,380, including police $158,430, fire and first aid $622,950 and emergency management $600,000.
• Public safety lines: police salaries $5,131,196.13; aid to volunteer fire companies $110,000 and first aid squads $15,000; LOSAP $101,947.50.

What to look for

• Rates and levy: municipal rate 0.253 → 0.246 (−2.77%); municipal levy +3.44% ($808,094.97); municipal tax on the average residential assessment $2,291.83 (+$86.25).
• 2025 levies by entity: school $101,893,380.00 (64.88%), county $25,888,731.47, municipal $23,507,499.33, library $2,998,768.00, county open space $2,754,411.25; no fire district levy.
• Police: 40 full-time officers; base pay $4,814,235.93; total personnel cost $7,715,869.44. No paid firefighters.
• Appeals: 31 County Tax Board and 13 State Tax Court appeals filed in 2025; $15,700.09 paid out.
• Debt: municipal net debt $0; gross debt is $28,690,000 of school bonds; ratings Aa1 (Moody’s) and AAA (S&P).
• Structural imbalance: “Unknown Exorbitant State Health Benefits Plan premium increases.”

What to look for

• The funding status: a House appropriations bill, not an enacted appropriation.

What to look for

• What the project would build, and for whom (including veterans at Valley Brook Village).
• The item does not state the funding’s status; the linked release says it is in a House bill.

What to look for

• The property and parties named in the ordinance; the easement map is posted as a separate notice.

What to look for

• The property and parties named in the ordinance; the easement map is posted as a separate notice.

What to look for

• The property and parties named in the ordinance; the easement map is posted as a separate notice.

What to look for

• The property and parties named in the ordinance; the easement map is posted as a separate notice.

What to look for

• The property and parties named in the ordinance; the easement map is posted as a separate notice.

What to look for

• Flood Maps: the four township flood-zone maps.
• Protecting Homes: FEMA guides on elevating and retrofitting.

What to look for

• Scope: what will be built and repaved.
• Project update: what is complete, and the lane-closure plan (eastbound open in the morning for school traffic).

What to look for

• Date, time and place of the hearing; the public may attend.
• “Formal action will be taken at this time”: the 2027 rates may be set the same night.

What to look for

• Hours and limits in the schedule table.
• Signs: regulatory signs are to be erected to enforce it.

What to look for

• The measured limits from the firehouse property corner.

What to look for

• The counsel increase does not say what matter the work concerns.

What to look for

• Cumulative totals: the Annin Road “not to exceed” ($844,996.19) adds change order #2 to the earlier total.
• New projects: solar inverters (2026–2027) and the plant condition assessment.

What to look for

• Statement of net position: cash, capital assets and liabilities (no bonds or notes are listed).
• Revenue and expenses, including interest income of $1,139,477.
• Recommendations: none.

What to look for

• The I&I Phase III original contract is printed “$908,60.00”; its not-to-exceed amount is $908,600.00.
• Professional contracts for 2026: engineering $65,000, legal $20,000, labor counsel $3,000, alternate special counsel $27,000, auditor $18,140.

What to look for

• The table of 2026 meeting dates (a scanned page).

What to look for

• The Somerset County rows, with Bernards’ Mountain Road path award.

What to look for

• The Allen Road entry and its limits.
• The page lists roads only; it does not describe crossing or safety changes.

What to look for

• The Bernards Township table: route numbers, local names and limits.

What to look for

• The May 6, 2026 materials: presentation, display boards and fact sheet.

What to look for

• The full text of the filming ordinance, pp. 3-6.
• The Peachtree, Woodstone and Church Street rules, pp. 7-8.
• The police grant acceptance (#2026-0420), pp. 11-12.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, October 13, 2026.

What to look for

• The road bid tabulation and reasons (#2026-0409), pp. 6-7.
• The Lake Road contract amendment (#2026-0408), p. 6.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, September 29, 2026.

What to look for

• The Community in Crisis agreement (#2026-0404), pp. 10-11.
• The public comment list, p. 11.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, September 15, 2026.

What to look for

• The #2603 hearing speakers and full text, pp. 5-7.
• The road bid tabulation and rejection (#2026-0383), p. 12.
• The Motorola radio order (#2026-0387), pp. 13-14.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, August 25, 2026.

What to look for

• The Class III officer appointments and school agreements (#2026-0366, #2026-0373, #2026-0374), pp. 7-11.
• The crossing guard award (#2026-0369), pp. 9-10.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, August 11, 2026.

What to look for

• The deer management resolution (#2026-0343), pp. 9-10.
• The Renda and Reivax change orders (#2026-0355, #2026-0356), pp. 11-12.
• The Public Works truck purchases, pp. 12-14.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, July 28, 2026.

What to look for

• The third-quarter grace period extension (#2026-0339), p. 11.
• The Byrne grant application (#2026-0328) and NJDOT application (#2026-0329), pp. 7-8.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, July 14, 2026.

What to look for

• The amendment votes and full text of #2599, pp. 14-17.
• The construction fee schedule (#2598), pp. 7-14.
• The Ridge Oak tax abatement amendment (#2026-0301), pp. 20-21, and public comment, pp. 31-32.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, June 23, 2026.

What to look for

• The FIFA World Cup grants (#2026-0289, #2026-0290), pp. 10-11.
• The Farmstead lease amendment (#2026-0300), p. 12.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, June 9, 2026.

What to look for

• The introduction of #2599, p. 15.
• The Farmstead grant authorization and its history (#2026-0283), pp. 10-12.
• The crossing guard contract (#2026-0285), pp. 13-14.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, May 26, 2026.

What to look for

• The #2597 purposes and amounts, pp. 5-6.
• The health benefits resolution (#2026-0268), p. 13.
• The police promotions, including #2026-0270 as printed, pp. 10-13.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, May 12, 2026.

What to look for

• The adopted budget figures (#2026-0256), pp. 5-6.
• The estimated 2026 levy (#2026-0257), pp. 11-12.
• The budget hearing and public comment, pp. 5 and 13.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, April 28, 2026.

What to look for

• The Renda Roads award and unit prices (#2026-0241), pp. 16-17.
• The Speed Sentry agreement with RideWise (#2026-0219), p. 10.
• The MS4 mapping award to Boswell (#2026-0243), pp. 18-19.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, April 14, 2026.

What to look for

• The CFO’s presentation and the budget figures (#2026-0213), p. 5.
• The emergency temporary appropriations by line (#2026-0214), pp. 5-8.
• The LOSAP lists (#2026-0205), pp. 12-13.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, March 24, 2026.

What to look for

• The full text of #2593, with the court order’s deadlines, pp. 4-5.
• The itemized #2594 capital ordinance, pp. 5-6.
• The Mountain Park turf award (#2026-0201), p. 11.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, March 10, 2026.

What to look for

• The Ridge Oak agreement (#2026-0189), pp. 11-13.
• The Spending Plan resolution (#2026-0177), p. 11.
• The Tax Collector’s 2025 receipts (#2026-0185), p. 9.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, February 24, 2026.

What to look for

• The Affirmative Marketing Plan resolution (#2026-0160), p. 12.
• Ordinance #2593’s introduction, pp. 12-13.
• Fuel donation to the fire companies (#2026-0169), p. 8.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, February 10, 2026.

What to look for

• The cap bank figures in #2592, p. 4.
• The Culberson Road study award (#2026-0154), pp. 11-12.
• The Construction Official’s 2025 report (#2026-0156), pp. 12-13.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, January 27, 2026.

What to look for

• Reivax change order #2 (#2026-0141), pp. 8-9.
• Private fire hydrant service list (#2026-0044), pp. 6-7.
• The public comment list, p. 11.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, January 13, 2026.

What to look for

• The Mayor’s address, pp. 4-8.
• The rules for the conduct of meetings (#2026-0043), pp. 34-38, and the 2026 meeting dates (#2026-0002), pp. 22-23.
• Legal notices moving to the township website (#2026-0014), pp. 24-25.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, January 6, 2026.

What to look for

• The line-by-line appropriation cancellations (#2025-0446), pp. 11-13.
• The 2026 parks and recreation fee schedule (#2025-0434), pp. 5-9.
• The shared municipal court agreement (#2025-0451), pp. 14-15.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, December 23, 2025.

What to look for

• The Motorola radio breakdown by fire company (#2025-0430), pp. 15-16.
• The police camera award and CFO certification (#2025-0442), p. 20.
• The 2026 Pleasant Valley Pool fees (#2025-0422), pp. 11-13.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, December 9, 2025.

What to look for

• The 2026 Coakley-Russo golf fee schedule (#2025-0407), pp. 7-8.
• The elevator change order (#2025-0403), p. 7.
• The public comment list, p. 4.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, November 25, 2025.

What to look for

• The roll call on #2025-0395 and its full text, pp. 10-11.
• #2025-0398 rescinding the Aqualis MS4 mapping award, p. 9.
• The public comment list, p. 3.
• Meeting summary: Township Committee, November 11, 2025.

What to look for

• Engineering Department updates (page 3) and Sewerage Authority (page 3).
• Parks and Recreation (page 7): completed projects and the Dunham Park roller rink next.