HILLSBOROUGH: Township declares victory in two suits against its zoning

   Township officials are declaring victory in the dismissal of two long-standing suits against the township’s zoning.
   Hillsborough Properties LLC challenged the Economic Development Zone of the 308 acres of the former GSA Depot.
   Superior Court Judge Peter A. Buchsbaum, sitting in Flemington, upheld Hillsborough’s balance of non-residential and residential development throughout the township, the township declared in a press release, saying it defending the validity of its master plan and protected ratables and the tax base.
   As the judge dismissed the case, he required a revision of the 50-acre minimum lot size for the Economic Development District zone. After a closed session following the public business portion of the meeting, the Township Committee introduced an ordinance to revise the minimum tract size and lot size in the Economic Development District to 25 acres. The public hearing for the ordinance is scheduled for Tuesday, March 13.
   ”This litigation has been ongoing for the last several years and we are happy with the judge’s decision to put this to rest, said Mayor Carl Suraci. “By introducing this ordinance adhering to the requirements set forth by the judge.”
   Several township officials, including Township Planner Robert Ringelheim and Scarlett Doyle, the township’s outside expert, had been called to provide testimony in the ongoing case, but the main focus of testimony centered around the plaintiff’s real estate and planning experts.
   The nine-day trial was over the desire of the plaintiff’s, who is the landowner, to invalidate Hillsborough Township’s ED zoning, which was applicable to 308.4 of the 334.185 acres he owns. The court summarized the facts of the trial in a lengthy decision and ruling to dismiss the case, with the minimum requirement size change as a stipulation to move forward.
   ”Upholding Hillsborough’s balance of non-residential and residential zoning is very important to keep our taxes stable,” said Mayor Suraci.