Township Committee — May 26, 2026
The Committee introduced Ordinance #2599, amending the uses permitted in the E-1 to E-5 office zones, and referred it to the Planning Board, with a hearing set for June 23; it became the township's data center ban. It tabled the construction fee ordinance (#2598) to fix a typographical error, accepted a $72,394.53 Clean Communities grant and let the Farmstead's Friends apply for a county preservation grant, all 5-0. Two people spoke.
- Data centers
- Development
- Infrastructure
- Environment
Meeting recording
Recording plays on the township archive
This meeting does not play on this page. The township's recording is complete and plays in full on the township's own channel.
What happened
What the record shows
All five members were present: Asay, Hodges, McNally, Tompkins and Mayor Duarte McCarthy. There was no executive session. Every vote below was 5-0 (aye Asay, Hodges, McNally, Tompkins, Duarte McCarthy). The meeting adjourned at 8:29 p.m.
Proclamations honored Eagle Scout Ian Scheper (an orienteering course at Pleasant Valley Park), Jewish American Heritage Month and Mental Health Awareness Month, with the township again designated a Stigma-Free Community.
Ordinances
- #2599, amending Chapter 21, Land Development, on the uses permitted in the E-1, E-2, E-3, E-4 and E-5 office zones: introduced, referred to the Planning Board, hearing June 23, 2026. The minutes give only the title; the ordinance adopted June 23 prohibits data centers in all zones. See the data center ban.
- #2598, amending the construction fee schedule in Chapter 12: introduction tabled to June 9 to correct a typographical error in one of the fees.
Resolutions
The consent agenda included:
- #2026-0282, accepting a $72,394.53 NJDEP grant for the 2026 Clean Communities Program. See trash and recycling.
- #2026-0283, authorizing the Friends of the Kennedy-Martin-Stelle Farmstead to apply for a Somerset County 2026 Historic Preservation Grant of up to $590,544 for bathrooms and a catering kitchen in the Cowshed, ADA walkways and roof work, with a township match of up to $59,054. See parks and recreation.
- #2026-0285, crossing guard services from Crossing Guard Services LLC, not to exceed $117,000.00 for January 1 to June 30, 2026, and a patrol officer hire (Logan Malina). See police.
- #2026-0276, a shared services agreement with Somerset County for accessible transportation, $231.43 per trip for the first four hours.
- Special event permits for the Battle of Basking Ridge soccer village and street festival (June 13), the Memorial Day parade and the car show; employee anniversary commendations; a library assistant hire; a surplus auction; and the bill list.
The May 12 minutes were approved.
Public comment
No one spoke in the first period. In the second, Michael Fitzpatrick of Field View Drive, a Farmstead Arts board member, thanked the Committee for the grant authorization, and Tom Lambert of Fieldstone Drive spoke about curbing in his neighborhood (roads and paving).
Records
- Minutes (township document page)
- Agenda (township document page)
- Video on the township’s YouTube channel. This page follows the Committee’s minutes.