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Residents urge Montgomery to remove Kenview housing proposal, cite historical and environmental damage
Summary
At a town hall, multiple residents, conservationists and preservation advocates urged the township to take the Kenview (former J&J) campus out of the housing plan, arguing a 417‑unit scheme would harm the Sourland Mountain Preserve, infrastructure and an architecturally significant building; staff said no final decision has been made while negotiations for extensions continue.
Dozens of residents told Montgomery Township leaders on Monday they oppose including a 417‑unit residential concept at the former Kenview (formerly J&J) campus in the township's Round 4 housing plan, citing concerns about scale, traffic, school impacts, and the site's environmental and architectural significance.
Residents' concerns: Multiple speakers said the Kenview concept places high density in a largely rural, environmentally sensitive portion of the township and argued the infrastructure and transit access are inadequate. "417 units to get 70 units of affordable housing without respect to the fact that it's kinda plunked in the middle of nowhere," said Matthew Riccardi, adding that residents should concentrate density along the existing 206 corridor. Longtime resident Peter Neff urged the township to "pause this project, reopen its decision making process, and fully assess genuine public involvement."
Historic preservation claim: Shelly Jacobson presented an extended statement asserting the Kenview campus was designed by I.M. Pei and called it "our most architecturally significant building in the township," urging adaptive reuse rather than demolition. Township staff said the landmarks commission is reviewing claims about the campus but that the building is not formally designated at this time.
Environmental concern: A representative of the Sourlands Conservancy explained why the Sourland Mountain Preserve is important regionally and said placing high‑density housing there would damage habitat and landscape continuity. Several residents raised wetlands, well and septic constraints and argued those factors make high density unrealistic on other candidate sites.
Township response and next steps: Township leaders told attendees they have a new option—pursuing extensions of deed restrictions at existing complexes—that could remove the need for Kenview in the plan if negotiations succeed. Staff emphasized that the June 30 plan submission preserved procedural immunity, that no zoning changes have been adopted, and that any amendment to remove Kenview would require additional public hearings at the planning board and notice in advance.
What happens next: Officials said they are negotiating with property owners (notably at Pike Run) about extensions, will post materials online, and will hold a follow‑up town hall on August 25. They stressed that the master plan element does not confer development rights until zoning is changed, and that the township has until March 31, 2026 to adopt related zoning if amendments proceed.
Documentation: The article reflects direct testimony by named residents, the Sourlands Conservancy representative, and town staff during the public‑comment portion of the town hall.
