Good news!!! The ordinance to remove warehouse use for FUTURE applications has been approved by the Township Committee. The public outcry on warehouses is being heard and we need to keep it up! Thank you for attending meetings, sending comments to the Township Committee, and encouraging your neighbors, friends, and family to do the same. The existing seven applications for proposed warehouses are exempt from this ordinance so we must continue to make sure they don’t get approved.
The next Planning Board meeting is Thursday, June 22nd at 7:00 in the Municipal Building court room when the largest proposed warehouse will be reviewed.
189/203 Homestead Road (the 2 largest of 7 proposed warehouses)
The application for 189/203 Homestead Road is for the approval of consolidating those 2 lots to build 2 warehouses totaling the size of NINE football fields as a 24/7 hour operation. There were many unknowns due to three NJDEP investigations, numerous changes to the plans, and unknown uses in the proposed warehouses. The NJDEP investigations are still open and we still don’t know who the tenant/use would be but testimony about the plans and traffic are still scheduled.
It’s important to let the Planning Board know your concerns about traffic safety and disruption, increased flooding risk, and to ask the applicant questions.
Here are some specific concerns about this proposed warehouse:
18-wheeler tractor trailers turning onto the narrow road with NO shoulders on a road that leads to the high school from neighborhoods on the eastern part of town.
Limited sight view as shown in the photo can cause traffic accidents
A 24/7 hour operation will cause light and noise pollution.
Even if this huge warehouse meets impervious surface requirements, it will greatly impact the flood zone for Royce Brook. The Planning Board does not take into account the cumulative effect of all the warehouses and other developments. They referred to the Township Committee when residents asked.
The bypass was meant to reduce the number of trucks in our town. Warehouses negate that by increasing truck traffic in quiet residential areas.
Cyclists using the bike lanes on Willow Road risk increased accidents with truck traffic.
Tell your neighbors, family, and friends to attend! Our community needs all the support we can get.