Pinelands Commission returns to open session, hears litigation update and restaurant follow-up before adjourning

The Pinelands Commission returned to open session and received a brief staff update on pending litigation and related costs, and was told staff met with local restaurant owners to discuss next steps before adjourning.

A presiding officer said Stacy Ross would provide an update on pending litigation and any associated costs tied to it. The meeting was told that Richmond Point has withheld certain information as confidential and that the parties would provide those materials when they determine confidentiality is no longer required.

A commissioner summarized a recent meeting staff held with the restaurant owners. "They're going to be talking to their consultants to get us some information so we can make some substantive decisions," the commissioner said, describing a planned follow-up in which owners will return with consultant-provided materials to inform the commission's deliberations.

The report noted that April Field of staff met with the restaurant owners to discuss how to move the process forward; no dates or funding figures were specified in the transcript. Commissioners responded positively to the update and acknowledged the next steps.

The presiding officer then entertained a motion to adjourn. A participant moved and another seconded; the chair called for the vote and the motion carried. The transcript records the motion and that it passed but does not record the names of the mover or seconder or a numerical vote tally.

The meeting adjourned after the brief updates and procedural vote.