29-Unit Age-Restricted Affordable Housing Plan Approved By Bernards Planning Board

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — The Bernards Township Planning Board unanimously approved Ridge Oak Management Inc.’s application for a 29-unit age-restricted affordable housing development on Tuesday.

The project, at 95 and 150 Manchester Drive, is part of the township’s fourth round housing element and fair share plan, which was approved in May 2025 by the Township Committee.

The application returned to the board after revisions that addressed fire safety, lighting and environmental concerns raised over prior hearings.

The applicant’s engineer described changes made after consultation with the fire chief, including a second fire hydrant near the access driveway, emergency vehicle turnaround accommodations and confirmation that the building would be fully sprinklered.

Board review also covered wetlands and habitat protections, stormwater drainage toward the Great Swamp watershed, porous pavement maintenance, generator noise compliance, landscaping and retaining wall details.

The board added conditions requiring updated landscaping coordination and compliance documentation.

Revised architectural plans included shielded LED down-light fixtures in place of earlier wall lights, benches at the gazebo and front porch, clarified mailbox layouts and building address signage details.

During closing remarks, the applicant’s attorney Luke Pontier, of the law firm Dave Pitney told the board that, "The applicant was able to eliminate one of the site plan exceptions related to the spacing of lighting fixtures and was able to significantly reduce another exception from the site plan requirements related to lighting intensity. So, as I said, this is a project that we've collaborated with the board on. It is a better project and application because of it."

Before the vote, Board Chairwoman Kathleen Mastrangelo said, "There is no doubt that this is a needed type of housing in this community as well as the greater community in New Jersey... I wish every applicant could come as well prepared as you guys did and listen to us as much and be reflective and come back to us with improved plans. So for that, I really commend you for listening to us and to your community and for meeting with the neighbors as well."

The board then voted unanimously to approve the application with conditions.

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