News and Events | Bridgewater Township

Category Archives: News and Events

Press Release: Court Denies Advance Realty’s Motion on Center of Excellence Site Plan Approval

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 5, 2020

Contact: Wells Winegar, Dep. Administrator

Phone: 908-725-6300 ext. 5000

Court Denies Advance Realty’s Motion on Center of Excellence Site Plan Approval

Bridgewater, NJ – On Tuesday, April 21^st, lawyers on behalf of Advance Realty filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment to obtain final site plan approval for the grocery store and hotel at the Center of Excellence site in Bridgewater. Their goal was to do this without being required to submit additional documentation to the Bridgewater Planning Board or go back for an additional final site plan hearing. Bridgewater Township filed a response to this Motion on May 5^th and today, June 5^th, Judge Thomas Miller issued the Court’s decision.

The Court denied Advance Realty’s attempt to force the Bridgewater Township Planning Board to issue final site plan approval for the hotel and grocery store and denied their request to remove language from the Planning Board’s most recent Resolution issues on February 25^th.

Mayor Matthew Moench issued the following statement in response to Judge Miller’s ruling:

“On behalf of the residents of Bridgewater, I am grateful that Advance Realty’s request to circumvent our municipal land use process did not succeed. Instead, the Court will take the time to review the entire record of the Center of Excellence application before it issues a ruling on the merits of the claim that the Planning Board acted improperly. I am confident that after such a review the Court will uphold the Planning Board’s reasonable requirement that the developer come back before the Bridgewater Planning Board with greater details on the supermarket and hotel before receiving final site plan approval. As mentioned in the Court’s decision, the supermarket and hotel make up 150,000 square feet out of the 275,000 square feet of non-residential floor area. It is essential to the redevelopment of this site and its impact on the community that the Planning Board has all the information it needs on this significant aspect of the proposed development.

“My Administration has been crystal clear that we will advocate on behalf of our residents for a redevelopment plan that is appropriate for our community and that fits within the character of the Township we love. Whether it is this developer, or any other, we will provide a full, fair opportunity for businesses to grow and expand in Bridgewater. But for those developers, like Advance Realty, who want to impose their will on the Township to turn a profit at the expense of the quality of life for our residents, we will be fearless in our defense of the character of our community.

“I am grateful for the victory today on behalf of our residents, and look forward to a final resolution of this chapter in the saga of the Center of Excellence development.”

The Township will announce information on next steps of the litigation as it becomes available.

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PRESS RELEASE: Mayor Moench Announces Partnership with Boxcar Groceries

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2020

Contact: Wells Winegar, Dep. Administrator

Phone: 908-725-6300 ext. 5000

Mayor Moench Announces Bridgewater Partnership with Boxcar Groceries

Bridgewater, NJ – Today, Bridgewater Township announced a partnership with Boxcar Groceries who will use the Municipal Complex for their contact-free, drive through grocery pickup.

Boxcar partners with local produce providers to make boxes of grocery staples available for purchase for Bridgewater residents who maybe nervous about going to a grocery during this challenging time.

The boxes include Milk, Eggs, Fruit and Vegetables and the Township is planning on working with some local businesses to provide additional add-ons in the future.

“We are excited to partner with such an innovative company who has adjusted their original business model in order to fit the needs of the current environment,” said Mayor Matthew Moench. “I hope our residents who wish to avoid the stress of grocery shopping in public, will find this service of value to them.”

“The response to our contact-free grocery pickups has been tremendous in the towns we are serving. We are excited to partner with Bridgewater to make drive-through groceries available to residents here, as well,” said Boxcar CEO Joe Colangelo.

Here’s how it works:

1. If residents are interested in taking advantage of this service, they should go to http://www.boxcarapp.com/bridgewater-grocery — where you can reserve their box or donate one to a local charity.

2. At the scheduled pick up time, drive to the Bridgewater Municipal Complex at 100 Commons Way and follow the signage to the pick-up area.

3. The staff will observe license plates, which residents will submit upon purchase, and load your grocery box into your car. Completely Contact-free.

The first grocery pick up will be this Saturday, May 2^nd from 11AM-1PM.

The first pick up will be limited to 50 boxes with plan to expand over coming weeks

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PRESS RELEASE: Mayor Moench Releases Statement in Response to Latest Advance Reality Action on Center of Excellence Site

Mayor Moench Releases Statement in Response to Latest Advance Reality Action on Center of Excellence Site

Bridgewater, NJ – On Tuesday, April 21^st, parties on behalf of Advance Realty filed a Motion for Partial Summary Judgment to obtain final site plan approval for the grocery store and hotel at the Center of Excellence site in Bridgewater. Their goal is to do this without being required to submit additional documentation to the Bridgewater Planning Board or go back for an additional final site plan hearing.

Of this action Mayor Matthew Moench released the following statement:

“In light of the COVID-19 outbreak, it is apparent, now more than ever, how important pharmaceutical research, development, and manufacturing is to our country. New Jersey, especially towns like Bridgewater, have been the bedrock of that industry. It is the time to step up as a community, as a state, and a country to revitalize those properties which can serve as the home for revitalizing and augmenting these industries.

“The former Sanofi-Aventis site has been and would continue be an ideal location for this kind of critical activity. It is time for the developer to consider what is in the best interests of Bridgewater, New Jersey and the Country by working with us to create a plan that protects this vital resource and puts it to work for all of our collective interests.

“Instead, the Developer continues to try to force upon us a site plan the community does not want. They are seeking to circumvent the land use process to get the supermarket that they want as opposed to one the community can accept after thorough and proper Planning Board review. The landscape has changed dramatically since the redevelopment plan was first conceived and I ask the developer to work with us on a new plan that looks at and fits the needs of our community today.”

The response to the motion is due on May 5^th and a decision is expected approximately one month from that date.

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PRESS RELEASE: Bridgewater Township Council Passes Resolution Expressing Disappointment in Lack of Federal Stimulus Funds

Bridgewater Township Council Passes Resolution Expressing Disappointment in Lack of Federal Stimulus Funds

Bridgewater, NJ – The Bridgewater Township Council unanimously passed a Resolution expressing disappointment in the lack of federal stimulus funds coming to Bridgewater Township and called on the Township’s federal representatives to advocate for any future stimulus or aid for Bridgewater Township to help minimize the impacts of this crisis on its residents and property taxpayers.

$82.2 million of the $2.2 Trillion stimulus bill has been allocated to the State of New Jersey along with various counties and to municipalities with populations of at least 50,000, but Bridgewater received no funding because it misses the threshold at 45,000 residents.

“In addition to the devastating loss of life in Bridgewater from the COVID-19 pandemic, 28 souls as of today, we are also taking it on the chin financially through a tax revenue reduction of as much as $1.8 million and at least $250,000 in increased expenses,” said Councilman Michael Kirsh. “Governments and agencies throughout this region are raising their hands asking for help. We don’t have a daily televised press conference to make our plea. So instead, this resolution asks our Federal representatives, Senators Menendez and Booker and Congressman Malinowski, to fight for the needs of Bridgewater and hundreds of municipalities like us that have been bypassed to date, despite allocation of a whopping $2.2 Trillion in aid.”

Mayor Matthew Moench added,”I am in lockstep with the Council on this Resolution and I thank Councilman Kirsh for his leadership on it. Bridgewater has a population of 45,000; 5,000 short of the requirement to receive funding in this tranche of money. As the largest municipality in our Congressional District, I would have expected a better result. I implore our federal representatives to fight harder for Bridgewater as additional funding becomes available.”

Please see below for the full text of the Resolution:

A RESOLUTION EXPRESSING DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE LACK OF FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY BEING AWARDED TO BRIDGEWATER TOWNSHIP (TO DATE) AND REQUEST FOR CONSIDERATION FOR FEDERAL STIMULUS FUNDS THAT MAY BE AWARDED IN THE FUTURE

WHEREAS, In March 2020 the United States House of Representatives and United States Senate passed S. 3548, a $2.2 Trillion “Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act” also known as the “CARES

Act”; and

WHEREAS, a stated intention of the CARES Act was to provide relief to individuals, businesses, agencies, and governments to account for negative financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic; and

WHEREAS, Bridgewater Township, with a population of 45,000, has experienced and is projecting a combination of higher expenses (at least $250,000) and reduced revenue (as much as $1.8 Million) directly attributable to the COVID-19 crisis; and

WHEREAS, the aforementioned impacts will require Bridgewater Township’s Mayor and Township Council to not only reduce expenses but to considerably increase the amount raised by taxation to develop a 2020 budget; and

WHEREAS, $82.2 million of the $2.2 Trillion stimulus bill has been allocated to the State of New Jersey along with various counties and to municipalities with populations of at least 50,000, but nothing for Bridgewater Township;

NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Bridgewater Township Council expresses its profound disappointment that Bridgewater Township’s financial needs, and those of every other New Jersey municipality with fewer than 50,000 residents, have not been accommodated to date within the $2.2 Trillion CARES Act; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Bridgewater Township Council expresses to its elected Federal representatives (U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, and Congressman Tom Malinowski) its strong desire that any future stimulus or aid accounts for the needs of Bridgewater Township to help minimize the impact of this crisis on its residents and property taxpayers; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this resolution be transmitted electronically to the offices of U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Congressman Tom Malinowski, State Senator Mike Doherty, Assemblyman John DiMaio, Assemblyman Erik Peterson, the Clerk of the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders, and the Administrator of the Bridgewater-Raritan Regional School District.

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Mayor Moench Holds Digital Small Business Forum with SBA

Last Friday, Mayor Matthew Moench and Bridgewater Township, in partnership with the U.S. Small Business Administration, hosted a digital Small Business Forum. Bridgewater small business owners will had the opportunity to hear directly from and ask questions to SBA officials.

Call Participants included:

· Matthew Moench, Mayor

· Michael Pappas, Bridgewater Township Administrator

· Alfred Titone, SBA New Jersey District Director

· Michael Lampton, SBA Disaster Field Operations Center Acting Deputy Director

· Kathy Cook, SBA External Affairs Specialist

Please click below for a recording of the event:

Bridgewater Small Business Webinar

Mayor Moench Holds First Telephone Town Hall for Residents

Mayor Matthew Moench, joined by Bridgewater’s Health and Emergency Management Officials, held a Telephone Town Hall for Bridgewater residents to discuss the municipal response the COVID-19 pandemic.

The community conversation ranged from information released on positive cases in Bridgewater to public health safety tips for families and included discussion on municipal taxes and revenues. Please click the link below to listen to the recording:

Bridgewater Telephone Town Hall 4/14/20

Mayor Moench Calls for Legislature to Pass Local Finance Reforms

Bridgewater Mayor Matthew Moench sent a letter to Governor Phil Murphy and Legislative Leadership calling for them to take on a series of municipal finance reforms that would help municipalities, like Bridgewater, in dealing with budgetary issues as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak. Please click the link below to read the letter:

Mayor Moench Letter to Governor and Legislative Leaders

PRESS RELEASE: Heath Officer Confirms First COVID-19 Related Death in Bridgewater

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 22, 2020

Contact: Michael Pappas, Twp. Administrator

Phone: 908-725-6300 ext. 5000

Health Officer Confirms First COVID-19 Related Death in Bridgewater

Bridgewater, NJ – Today, Bridgewater Health Officer, Kevin Sumner, has confirmed the first fatality related to COVID-19 in Bridgewater.

“I have learned that one of our residents has passed away due to complications associated with the COVID-19 virus,” said Mayor Matthew Moench. “I would like to pass my condolences along to the family and friends at this difficult time. My family, and the entire Bridgewater family, will be praying for you.”

Mayor Moench continued, “We must treat all of our neighbors like family now. Everyone has a role to play. Practice the guidelines placed by our public health professionals so that we can avoid any further tragedies. I have seen the way this community has pulled together in the past and I am confident that we will come out from this crisis stronger and more close knit than ever.”

Bridgewater Health Officer Kevin Sumner said, “The Heath Department is investigating all reported cases of COVID-19 in Bridgewater. Our goal remains the same, to slow and eventually stop the spread of this disease. We ask the public to help us in this effort by following the public health recommendations such as social distancing and hand washing.”

If you have questions about COVID-19, please see below for trustworthy public resources:

Federal: Visit: www.cdc.gov or www.Coronavirus.gov

State of New Jersey: Dial: 211 or 1-800-962-1253/Text: NJCOVID to 898-211 or Text: your zip code to 898-211 for live text assistance. Visit: www.nj.gov/health/

Somerset County: Dial: 908-231-7111 to listen to daily updates about the status of the coronavirus in Somerset County

Bridgewater Township: Dial: 908-429-8444 or Email: Coronavirus@BridgewaterNJ.gov for Bridgewater specific questions

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Mayor Moench Issues Emergency Declaration in Response to COVID-19

Please click below to see the full text

Emergency Declaration – March 16 2020

Bridgewater Municipal Court Cancelled for Three Weeks

Bridgewater Township Municipal Court is cancelled for the next three weeks. Court is scheduled to resume on April 7th.

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