'Outlandish, Giant Monstrosities': Hillsborough Residents Criticize Proposed Warehouses

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Nearly 20 residents spoke for over two hours against an application by Homestead Road LLC, which is proposing to consolidate two lots, tear down existing buildings, and build two warehouses/office buildings off Homestead Road.

Resident David Brook spoke at Thursday's Hillsborough Planning Board meeting, sharing that he has tried "to understand how these two giant warehouse monoliths could possibly conform to the requirements of the TECD[Transitional Economic Development District] zone. I have not been convinced, and I think the planning board should not be either."

After three years of hearings, public comment was first heard on the application in May and continued to this past Thursday. The Homestead Road application was first brought before the Planning Board in May 2022.

"Like many, I am marveled by the sheer size of the projected facility so close to residential neighborhoods on one side and secondary roads on another," said resident Meryl Bisberg. "How can two buildings comprising of nine football fields of warehouse space, 90 docks, 137 trailer parking spaces, 281 regular parking spaces, and a 24 hour operation assure the peace and soliturde of nearby residents when this project would be several times bigger than almost any warehouse in Hillsborough in the light industrial zone and bigger than most pending warehouse applications around the state?"

The application is proposing a total of 543,299 square feet of industrial and office space, which includes a one-story warehouse with 168,304 square feet and a 6,000 square foot office building along with another one-story 368,995 square foot warehouse.

Resident Grant Culmer expressed his "profound and deeply troubling concerns with the application. It's clear the proposed size and scale are utterly inappropriate and do not fit the intent of the transitional zone."

Culmer also noted that the applicant never disclosed who the tenant for the property would be, which led to questions on how the property would operate.

"Approving a project of this magnitude without a clear understanding of its operation really is akin to buying a pig and a poke," said Culmer. "We won’t know the full consequence until it is too late."

Brook did thank the applicant for introducing "these two outlandish, giant monstrosities" because he said it brought the community together regardless of political affiliation.

"This proposal in the uncompromising manner in which it has been pursued, has only acted to crystallize broad-based and fact-based community opposition, and that has been incredibly motivating," said Brook.

"The common denominator for everyone who has spoken so far has simply been that we care about this town and we want to make the best decisions so that everybody can be benefited and also so everybody can be protected," said Brook.

The meeting ended with the hearing being carried to July 10 at 7 p.m. where objectors of the application can give their summations along with the applicant giving their closing statements before a final vote can be taken by the planning board.

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