Hearing Postponed for Zoning Change Ordinance on Houses of Worship

The township council has postponed Thursday's planned hearing for a zoning change on houses of worship until March 14 while it takes the time to inform local planning boards of the proposal.

The ordinance, which was unanimously recommended by the planning board Monday, changes township zoning to state that houses of worship, country clubs and other businesses can only be built on locations with access to major thoroughfares.

The council introduced the ordinance in February, and was expected to hold a public hearing and vote during Thursday's agenda session meeting, but it has been postponed until a special council meeting March 14 at 7:30 p.m. at the .

According to the township clerk, the postponement was initiated to allow the township to give timely notice to the Somerset and Middlesex county planning boards, as well as adjacent municipal clerks.

This action is required by municipal land use law.

If the ordinance is approved, it would directly impact an application that was first heard before the planning board Monday to build a on the former Redwood Inn property on Mountain Top Road. This change in zoning would require the applicant to get a variance from the zoning board to build a house of worship on that property.