FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                         
February 4, 2020

Contact: Wells Winegar, Deputy Administrator
Phone: 908-725-6300

A Statement from Mayor Moench in Response to the Lawsuit Against the Planning Board

“As I have said many times before, development and land use matters in Bridgewater will no longer be met with a handshake and a rubber stamp,” said Mayor Matthew Moench.  “Our Administration will aggressively oppose any attempt to circumvent our zoning ordinance and will oppose this meritless action by Advance Realty every step of the way.  Though this may be something less than Advance is used to, it is no less than what Bridgewater residents deserve.”

“With six new members and new Board attorney getting up to speed on this complicated matter, the resolution shall be addressed on the planning board’s February 25^th meeting.  Nearly two years after they first filed their site plan, with a voluntary dismissal and a number of other delays of their own making along the way, it is hard to take this developer’s demand for immediate action seriously.  Advance Realty knows very well that this lawsuit will not be resolved before the planning board convenes on February 25^th to consider this resolution, so this action is either a publicity stunt or, worse yet, a blatant and shameless attempt to end run our municipal land use process. Whatever their motives, this Board and this Administration will not be bullied by developers seeking to turn a profit at the cost of our residents quality of life.”  

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