Residents sharply divided over redevelopment of former Lord Sterling School site in Bernards Township

A near two-hour public-comment period at the Bernards Township Committee’s June 23 meeting focused on the future of the former Lord Sterling School site at 99 Lord Sterling Road, producing sharply divided views from neighbors, preservation groups and the property owner.

Multiple residents and community members urged the committee to advance redevelopment that would remove the site’s blight and provide senior and homes for adults with special needs. Supporters, including several speakers who described professional experience in municipal government and construction, said the proposed project could generate recurring tax revenue (one speaker cited an estimate of about $1 million annually) while having minimal impact on public schools because of age-restricted units. John Rocker, who identified himself from the podium as the property owner and developer, asked the committee to move forward with the redevelopment study and offered to stabilize and clean the property if given a clear path forward.

Opponents and preservation-minded commenters said the property has historical value and environmental concerns that must be weighed; some speakers said they had organized and obtained an endangered-historic-site designation from New Jersey Preservation (as stated in public comment). Several residents criticized the pace and transparency of the planning-board redevelopment study process and said they were surprised by presentations and media mentions of the proposal.

Town officials clarified process: the township committee previously passed a resolution referring the site to the planning board to determine whether the property meets statutory criteria for designation as an area in need of redevelopment; that planning-board review remains the next step and any planning-board recommendation would return to the committee for action. The township attorney and mayor reminded speakers that the planning-board proceedings are public and urged residents to attend and comment there.

What’s next: The planning board’s review and a forthcoming public hearing on the redevelopment determination are the next procedural steps. Residents on both sides encouraged attendance at that meeting, and several asked the committee to release a timeline for the planning-board study.

Representative quotes: • John Rocker (property owner): "I... bought the school property knowingly with all the risks in mind and I feel so strongly that this can and should be a culmination of my career... I’ll clean the property up and work with you." • Amanda Calfman (resident): "This seems like a rare chance for a win-win... senior housing will lower the school tax for everyone with no impact on the school district." • Joanne Kleinley (neighbor): "This is not all one-sided... I live in that neighborhood and I love this town’s history and I do not want something that will have a huge environmental impact or take away a historic building."