Planning and Zoning Board applications and zoning changes, 2025-2026

The agenda listed the public hearing on Millington Baptist Church's parking-lot application (ZB26-011) and an executive session on the Signature Acquisitions lawsuit over 150 Allen Road. The township's notice records three residential approvals memorialized, and its recording shows the Board approved the Millington Baptist application, 7-0. The township had not posted minutes of this meeting as of Nov. 1, 2026.

The Board granted Fellowship Village's third extension (PB22-005C), 9-0, letting it keep its current stormwater design: plans signed by March 31, 2027, permits by September 30, 2027 and approvals extended to October 3, 2027. It named a construction routing committee for Ridge Oak and met in closed session for legal advice on the procedures for an area-in-need-of-redevelopment investigation.

The Board deemed the CIG Mt Airy subdivision application complete, approved three residential applications (178 Galloping Hill Road 6-1, Chair Baumann voting no; the others 7-0) and a time extension, and memorialized five August approvals. The three South Finley appeals were carried to be refiled as variance applications. One member of the public spoke.

The Board approved Amzak Basking Ridge's amended preliminary and final site plan for the apartment buildings at 180-181 Mountain View Boulevard (PB26-002), 5-1, after the applicant added a clubhouse generator and protection at every balcony. Two residents questioned or commented on the application. The Board also memorialized the Kearns/Vaccaro setback relief (PB24-002A), 5-0.

The Board opened the hearing on Amzak Basking Ridge's amended site plan for the apartment buildings at 180-181 Mountain View Boulevard (PB26-002), with engineering and architectural testimony and two residents questioning the engineer; it was carried to September 8. It extended Sha Tao's construction-permit deadline at 7 Mountain Road to December 7, 2026 (PB22-001C), 6-0.

The Board approved five residential applications, among them a relocated driveway at 6 Castle Way, a screened porch with a synthetic turf field at 17 Wayne Terrace and a detached "golf barn" at 191 South Finley Avenue, and extended the start deadline for 5 Brookside Avenue. All votes were unanimous among eligible members. Two members of the public spoke.

The Board memorialized its approval of Ridge Oak's 29-unit affordable senior building (PB26-001, 5-0) and the Aucta Pharmaceuticals extension (PB23-001A, 7-0), and adopted a change order to the Board Planner's contract. Fellowship Village's third request to extend its site-plan deadlines (PB22-005C) was carried to September 8 so its engineer could calculate the effect of the township's 2024 stormwater rules.

Special meeting. At the third hearing on 131 Morristown Rd LLC's plan (ZB25-040), the applicant revised it to 131 units, 105 market-rate and 26 affordable, and offered a five-year bond in lieu of Route 202 sidewalks; three residents asked questions and the hearing was carried to September 17. Millington Baptist Church's application was deemed complete, and the Haley and Vesuvio approvals were memorialized.

The Board approved two in-ground pools (9 Chapin Lane and 17 Birch Drive) and a house expansion at 4 Monroe Place, each 5-0, and found the CIG Mt Airy subdivision incomplete again. Three appeals of Zoning Officer decisions on South Finley Avenue properties were carried to September 9. One member of the public spoke.

The Board found Ordinance #2599, which revises the uses allowed in the E-1 to E-5 office zones and lists data centers as prohibited in all districts, not inconsistent with the 2023 Master Plan, 9-0, recommending that its definitions move to the code's definitions section. It deemed Amzak Basking Ridge's amended site plan (PB26-002) complete, 9-0, with the hearing set for August 18.

Special meeting. The Board approved the Vesuvio pool application at 22 Sentry Court, including a "d" variance for pool size, 6-0, after a hearing that began in February, and approved a pool and patio at 5 Dawn Drive, 6-0. Five members of the public spoke, four of them on the Vesuvio pool, mainly about stormwater.

The Board approved front-yard setback relief, 5-0, for an addition at 174 South Finley Avenue built 2.38 feet into the setback (PB24-002A), after the applicants agreed to plant screening trees asked for by two neighbors. It memorialized two Fellowship Village resolutions, and the Board Planner gave a presentation on the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law.

Special meeting. At the second hearing on 131 Morristown Rd LLC's townhouse plan (ZB25-040), the applicant's architect testified that all units would be for sale with 20% set aside as affordable housing; three residents asked questions and the hearing was carried to July 16. The Board found Millington Baptist Church's parking-lot application incomplete, 7-0.

The Board approved three residential applications and a one-year extension, each unanimously, memorialized the Church Street Properties approval, and carried the Haley and Vesuvio pool hearings to June 11. One member of the public spoke, on stormwater. The June 3 meeting was announced as cancelled for lack of a quorum.

The Board extended Aucta Pharmaceuticals' deadline for a permanent certificate of occupancy to January 16, 2027, with an as-built survey required, 9-0. The second hearing on Ridge Oak's 29-unit affordable senior building (PB26-001) covered operations, traffic and a redesigned lighting plan, with four residents questioning witnesses; it was carried to May 19.

The Board approved Church Street Properties' two-story rear office addition at 30 Church Street, with a d(4) floor-area variance, 7-0. It memorialized four March approvals and the dismissal of a 2023 application, and carried the Vesuvio pool hearing to May 6. No members of the public spoke.

The Board deemed Ridge Oak's 29-unit affordable senior building (PB26-001) complete, 8-0, and opened its public hearing with engineering, environmental and architectural testimony; the hearing was carried to May 5. It deemed the Kearns/Vaccaro amended conditional use application (PB24-002A) complete, 7-0, and adjourned Aucta Pharmaceuticals' extension request to May 5.

The Board deemed the 131 Morristown Rd LLC townhouse application (ZB25-040) complete, 7-0, and set its first hearing for April 16. It approved three residential applications and a time extension, all 7-0, found the CIG Mt Airy subdivision incomplete again, and carried the Vesuvio pool hearing to April 8. No members of the public spoke.

The Board found the 131 Morristown Rd LLC townhouse application (ZB25-040) incomplete, 7-0, after granting most waivers; approved a patio and pergola at 367 Grist Mill Drive; and carried the Callanan and Vesuvio pool hearings to March 4. Two Bridgewater neighbors questioned the Vesuvio pool plan. Nancy D'Andrea was sworn in.

The Board reorganized for 2026, re-electing Mastrangelo as Chairperson and appointing its engineer, attorney, secretary, newspapers, calendar and rules, each 9-0. It extended Fellowship Village's site-plan deadlines (PB22-005B, 9-0), found Fellowship Village's parking-count conditions satisfied (PB13-006C, 6-0), and authorized hiring Allison Fahey of Burgis Associates as Board Planner.

At its 2026 reorganization the Board swore in five members, elected Baumann chair and Pochtar vice chair, and appointed its professionals, all 7-0. It decided, 7-0, that ministers' residences at New Testament Ministries, 40 Whitenack Road, are a permitted accessory use; approved a lot-coverage variance at 37 Gold Blvd.; found the CIG Mt Airy subdivision incomplete; and memorialized seven December approvals. One member of the public spoke.

The Board deemed the Church Street Properties site plan application (30 Church Street) complete and approved four residential applications: three 5-0 and one, existing lot coverage at 23 Linden Drive, 4-1 with Chairwoman Genirs voting no. Two neighbors spoke on the 24 Ash Street application. Genirs announced it was her last meeting.

The Board's last meeting of 2025. At the applicant's request it adjourned Fellowship Village's annual parking report (PB13-006C) to January 20, 2026, met in executive session on its 2026 professionals and authorized the Chairwoman to proceed with them, and cancelled the December 16 and January 6 meetings, each 8-0.

The Board approved three residential bulk-variance applications, each 6-0: a pergola at 41 Sentinel Drive, a deck at 74 Winding Lane and additions at 129 West Oak Street. It memorialized four approvals from October and carried 62 Oakley Street to December 3. No members of the public spoke.