Berkeley Heights Residents Reject BAC Referendum By More Than 2,000 Votes

Residents of Berkeley Heights have made their opinion loud and clear: they are opposed to allowing the proposed Berkeley Aquatic Center to connect to the township's sewer system.

Voters went to the polls Tuesday, casting 2,744 ballots against allowing the proposed BAC to hook up to the municipal sewer system. According to the results from the Township Clerk's office, 661 residents cast votes in favor of the BAC referendum.

The Berkeley Aquatic Club proposal calls for the construction of a 51,000-square-foot building in nearby Warren, just over the Berkeley Heights border.

The facility plans involve the construction of an approximately 51,940-square-foot building on 523,591-square-feet of land. It includes a swimming pool facility containing three pools and including a competitive swim training pool and training facilities, a swimming school pool, an aqua therapy pool, locker rooms and other amenities. The center would be nestled between Hillcrest Road and Emerson Lane.

Berkeley Heights and Warren Township have an agreement that allows new residential structures in Warren Township to access the Berkeley Heights Sewage Treatment Facility, but not commercial structures. The proposed BAC facility would be a commercial enterprise.

In December 2011, the Berkeley Heights Township Council voted 5-to-1 against allowing any alteration to the original contract with Warren Township. This halted the BAC's plans. In March of this year, attorneys for the Berkeley Aquatic Center filed a motion in Union County Superior Court hoping to force Berkeley Heights into setting a date for a special election.

The township was ordered by Union County Superior Court Judge Karen M. Cassidy to set a date for the election so that residents could weigh in on the BAC's request for a sewer connection for the facility.

Residents and local officials who oppose the facility have cited concerns such as  additional traffic the facility could bring to an already dangerous area. Detractors are also concerned about the impact the facility would have on the Berkeley Heights sewer system, which the BAC would use, if constructed.

Those who support the plan, however, say that the Berkeley Heights sewer plant does, in fact have the capacity to accept 6,000 gallons per day of sewage from the BAC.

According to the clerk's office, 3,405 of the township's 9,270 registered voters went to the polls Tuesday to weigh in on the referendum.