Wayne Considering Suing Pequannock, Legacy Castle Over Fireworks

WAYNE, NJ — Fireworks set off at Legacy Castle on Route 23 have drawn the ire of township residents and officials, who are exploring suing the venue and nearby Pequannock Township in response to the pyrotechnic displays.

Mayor Chris Vergano expressed his displeasure with the fireworks in an Oct. 24 letter to then-Pequannock Township Mayor Catherine Winterfield and the Town Council.

Vergano said he was "outraged" by the "thunderous noise" the fireworks make. He said the "menacing explosions" last between 20 and 30 minutes.

The Legacy Castle opened in June. There have been fireworks there six times. It is located on Route 23 southbound, about a mile and a half from the Wayne Township Animal Shelter and other township businesses and homes.

Residents as far away as Valley Road have reported hearing the pyrotechnic show, Vergano said, and the Wayne Police Department has been inundated with calls about the noise they generate.

"You are now permitting a business to threaten the tranquil quality of life that my residents have come to expect and are in direct violation of Wayne Township's noise ordinance," Vergano said in his letter.

Pequannock's response to Vergano was that Legacy Castle is permitted to have no more than 24 fireworks celebrations a year, he said.

Winterfield said in a letter dated Nov. 15 that Pequannock officials were working to address the concerns raised by him and Wayne residents.

Attorney A. Michael Rubin, Legacy Castle's attorney, said in a letter to Vergano that his client obtained the necessary permits to display fireworks "in keeping with its being one of the finest banquet venues in our area." Rubin proposed that fireworks displays not last longer than 15 minutes and, during the winter, they would not go off after 8:40 p.m., he said.

"The Legacy Castle wishes to be a responsible neighbor as we are a service business serving residents in our area at a level never experienced in the past," Rubin said.

Pequannock Township Manager Adam Brewer said the township has been working with the representatives from the Legacy Castle since the project's inception.

"Full operations are recently relevant," said Brewer. "There were initially concerns from residents about noise coming from the property. The Township Council asked for compliance with certain requirements, and they said they would comply."

Vergano said Legacy's survival should not be dependent on it disrupting the lives of Wayne residents.

"We certainly want the Legacy to survive, however a business located in another town should not be able to violate our noise ordinance and inconvenience our residents," Vergano said.

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