BASKING RIDGE, NJ — An ordinance proposing to create a film studio in Bernards Township essentially died on Tuesday night after the Planning Board decided to table its review.
“I had some time to go over this but in no way enough time to do the due diligence necessary to look out for the members of our community,” said Planning Board member Ed Rubino, followed by applause from residents in the audience on Tuesday night.
During a contentious Planning Board meeting on Tuesday night, the Board was asked by the Township Committee on Dec. 14 to review an ordinance proposing to create a film studio and community campus overlay zone within the R-1 Zone would be located at the current Verizon campus off N Maple Avenue near Interstate 287.
The Committee previously introduced the ordinance at its Dec. 10 meeting with disagreement among members. Read More: Movie Studio Proposed To Be Built In Basking Ridge
“To make a decision after four days is doing the community a disservice,” said Rubino. “We should focus and not be strong-armed by people trying to get us to do that now.”
Committeeman and Planning Board Liason Andrew McNally asked for the ordinance review to be tabled citing “incomplete and inconsistent” data as it relates to the Township’s Master Plan.
Board Attorney Jonathan Drill explained that if the Board chose to table this review the ordinance would not go back to the Township Committee on Dec. 23. The ordinance would expire at the end of the year. While the ordinance would expire or “die,” the Township Committee would still have the option to restart the process and reintroduce the ordinance in the New Year.
“This is a big decision we are making here tonight. You have been given very little time and very little guidance to do it. That’s why I am moving to table,” said McNally.
Board member Lauren Manduke was not in support of tabling the ordinance review.
“The consequences of this Board not doing its job tonight are severe and significant,” said Manduke. ” The bottom line is we are understating the consequence of not deciding this tonight and in my opinion we have the information we need from our professionals and I will say it again we have the best in the state.”
Mayor Jennifer Asay had previously noted that the need to act on this opportunity now had to do with a timeline for the developer to acquire a competitive film tax credit from the New Jersey Economic Development Authority.
“We were put in a tough position tonight because this came through the Township Committee late,” said Board Chairman Paul Damurjian. “At the end of the day, we have to support the Township Committee. We need to step up and put our big boy pants on and make the vote… This ordinance shouldn’t die here in this Planning Board. That would be an embarrassment. Let them take it back to the Township Committee and they can duke it out there and you can have your public comments there but not here. This is a simple master plan consistency review that people are making a big deal over for whatever political reasons.”
Asay, who was present at the meeting by phone, urged the Board to “focus” on the review.
“Unfortunately with all the communication and drama and the unfortunate communication driving people to a meeting that doesn’t have an open public comment puts undue pressure. And I think it is unacceptable to treat our board volunteers in that manner,” said Asay. “It would be a terrible disservice to our residents and our community to not permit an actual public hearing on this topic.”
Ultimately the Board voted to table the ordinance, essentially allowing it to “die” with no other Planning Board meeting set for the rest of the year.
Board members John Crane, Daniel Eorio, John Ladyzinski, Andrew McNally, and Board Vice Chairwoman Kathleen Mastrangelo all voted to table the ordinance review. Board members Lauren Manduke, Vice Chairman Pro Temp Tyler Seville, Chairman Paul Damurjian, and Mayor Jennifer Asay all voted against tabling the review.
Following the vote a packed meeting room roared with applause and audience members cheering “Merry Christmas! Happy Hannukkah!”
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