BH Council Recap: Connell Overlays, Budget Demands, and the Hidden Recreation Timeline

The passing of the Connell Zoning ordinance at the 3/16/26 council meeting had many residents reporting concerns that Berkeley Heights is now on a collision course they believe will impact a strained infrastructure, add density and overwhelm schools along with adding to current traffic issues.

For the proposed building site within the Connell development, council approved a 3.75 million square foot max buildable area, 808 residential dwellings (with an additional possibility of 120 units) and an approval of a separate zone for overlay. Municipalities with large scale building projects that are seeking to accelerate affordable housing prediction and rectify state mandated requirements will use property overlays to achieve a desired outcome.  In the simplest terms, an overlay could encourage mixed use for existing developmental structures by increasing housing availability without requiring the acquisition of new land.

Public reaction before and after the vote has been strong and the Mayor’s announcement that she will not seek re-election and move to Florida appeared to add salt to resident’s wounds with one resident commenting on a community page..

“Typical politician – set up a disaster in the future and get out of dodge. ……Politicians make long term promises that they have no intention of being around to see through. Funny that Angie is going to Florida, a place with no income tax. We are starting to see all of the stupid decisions of the past come due and we already have ridiculously high taxes. Not sure how NJ fixes underfunded pensions, underfunded infrastructure (schools, water, storm drains) and poor overall management without driving everyone who can move out of the state elsewhere. This is bad.”.

Department heads all presented a case for budgetary increases to support their employees and the work they produce.

A BH eBike ordinance was discussed and is expected to include mandates from the state in addition to addressing the concerns observed and reported in Berkeley Heights.

The public session raised questions about how the Township will manage the sewage plant with all the proposed housing. Devanney responded that all aspects of the building project are being discussed.

Vague questions about contracts with the BOE were raised, requests for community oriented spaces (a theater for example) at the Nokia property, the preservation of existing facilities and structures contained within the Nokia building, concerns with MU overlay and the importance of allocating sufficient funds to provide for adequate radios for first responders was all contained within the citizens hearing on agenda items.

Continued Transparency Concerns Surround Recreation Department

One resident raised questions surrounding the timeline and quiet nature of events surrounding the resignation of the former Recreation Commission Chair Deb Varnerin (October 27, 2025) and the posting of a paid Recreation Project Manager (October 28, 2025) only to have Ms. Varnerin appointed, by Executive Order.

Ms. Varnerin, who is at the center of the ongoing CMS Sports Complex/Turf Field controversy also holds paid positions for the Borough of Mountainside (Asst. Tax Collector) and with the County (Commissioner on the Board of Elections).

In investigating the timeline, NJ21st was unable to find mention of this position or employee anywhere on the Township website.

We were also unable to find any updates or new information posted by the Recreation Commission since its last documented meeting on October 2025.