Legal challenges to Wagner Farm development have been ongoing since early 2022. One challenge was eventually lost but did result in delaying a second challenge. That second challenge resulted in a win on September 19, 2025! But there will be more legal cases needed: they are expensive and we need your help to pay for them! Legal expenses so far have exceeded the $15,000 collected to date. Legal work expected soon will require at least $10,000 more. Please help and donate now!
While development on 10 acres of Wagner Farm has been approved by the Warren Township Planning Board, it is not a “done deal.” We believe legal challenges will eventually prevent this development. But these challenges require resources: please help by donating now. Current legal challenges include
- NJ DEP permits are required and have not been approved.
- Numerous letters and postcards have been sent to DEP objecting to the permits.
- Calls to the Governor and state legislators have urged them to make sure the DEP does not approve the permits.
- A complaint was filed in Somerset county court against the Township Committee in 2022. It was rejected by the court in 2023 and appealed. We later lost the appeal, with the court ruling (incorrectly in our view) that the Township Committee has the authority to allow development of the property despite the original purpose of open space and recreation. These legal steps did result in delaying consideration of our second challenge.
- A second complaint was filed in Somerset county against the Planning Board in 2022. It was delayed pending the outcome of the first case, noted above. In a an order on September 22, 2025, the court remanded the case to the Warren Township Planning Board “to make additional findings and conclusions, based solely on the record already established…”. (italics in the court order).
- The Court further required the Planning Board to finish its update by December 31, 2025 after which we will have only 30 days to file objections with the Court. The Court is expected to issue an opinion in early 2026. As a result, it is imperative to raise legal funds now: please donate what you can!
These legal proceedings, including appeals, are taking a long time (years) to be resolved. During this time, it is unlikely that development will proceed. But legal challenges require resources! Please help by donating now.
In an Echoes-Sentinel article on August 18, titled “Wagner objectors’ attorney foresees ongoing litigation,” attorney Bruce Afran explains why the legal process can take years.