Bernardsville’s Downtown Gains Momentum with Transit Village Designation

October 8, 2025October 8, 2025

Aerial view of Bernardsville (left); Rendering of AR at Bernardsville; Bernardsville Station (right top-to-bottom)

Bernardsville, a borough of more than 8,000 residents at the northern tip of Somerset County, became New Jersey’s 37th Transit Village in August 2025. The designation is centered on Bernardsville Station, served by NJ TRANSIT’s Gladstone Branch of the Morris & Essex Lines, with connections to Hoboken Terminal, Newark Broad Street Station, and direct rush-hour service to Midtown Manhattan.

Rendering of *AR at Bernardsville*, an upcoming development near the station. Courtesy of Advance Realty

“Bernardsville is an old town. We have a lot of historic buildings and are proud of our history, but at the same time, we want to keep up with the times,” said Bernardsville Mayor Mary Jane Canose. “We have a younger population who are looking for a vibrant downtown. So, we decided that redevelopment around the train station could help us accomplish that.”

Transit has long shaped Bernardsville’s development. After the Civil War, New Yorkers purchased summer homes in the area while spending most of the week in the city. That changed in 1872, when the Gladstone Branch extended through Bernardsville, enabling daily commutes and attracting year-round residents. Station-centered growth ultimately led Bernardsville to separate from Bernards Township and incorporate as its own municipality in 1924.

Since its establishment, Bernardsville has ranked among New Jersey’s most affluent communities. The borough’s median household income of $231,006 far exceeds the state’s $101,050. Recent demographic shifts, however, include younger families moving in and a growing Hispanic community around the downtown station area.

Like many Transit Villages, Bernardsville sought designation to advance downtown revitalization. A 2018 Borough survey found that 98 percent of residents considered revitalization important, calling for expanded outdoor programming, more train service, and improved infrastructure. Through that survey and subsequent public engagement, the Borough identified resident priorities and used them to guide revitalization initiatives. These include adopting a Complete Streets policy (2022), initiating the Boylan Terrace Pedestrian Walkway project (later advanced through the Safe Routes to Transit program), and rezoning for mixed-use development near the station. Two redevelopment plans further anchor these efforts.

Quimby Lane Redevelopment Plan

Adopted in 2020, the Quimby Lane Redevelopment Plan (2020) envisioned a European-style village in an area bounded by Olcott Square, Mill Street, Claremont Road, and US 202. It sought to reverse auto-oriented development by promoting higher housing density, affordable units, active ground-floor uses such as restaurants and retail, reformed parking policies to support growth, new public outdoor spaces, and improved pedestrian infrastructure. The plan superseded portions of the Borough’s existing Land Development Code, spurring several zoning changes.

Despite developer interest, implementation of the plan has stalled due to property owners’ unwillingness to sell. A more recent attempt by the Borough to relocate a post office within the redevelopment area to free up land for mixed-use development has also been delayed. The Borough subsequently shifted focus to Palmer Square to create alternative opportunities for redevelopment.

Palmer Square Redevelopment Plan

First floor and site plan for AR at Bernardsville. Courtesy of Advance Realty

In 2023, the Borough adopted the Palmer Square Redevelopment Plan for parcels at 35–39 Olcott Square and 5 Morristown Road, located just 500 feet from the station. Though ideally situated for active downtown development, the site had remained underutilized. The plan revised zoning to allow higher housing density, require affordable housing units, and update parking standards.

In August 2025, the Planning Board approved AR at Bernardsville, a 67-unit mixed-use development with 10,000 sq. ft. of ground-floor retail. First introduced in 2022, the proposal underwent seven Planning Board meetings and more than 20 hours of public hearings before being rejected in 2024 on a four-to-four tie. Advance Realty sued, citing a 2023 contract with the Borough, and reached a settlement in May 2025 that allowed the project to move forward.

Safe Routes to Transit / Boylan Terrace Pedestrian Walkway

Bernardsville’s land use has historically been oriented around its hills, with residential neighborhoods located in the elevated parts of the borough, and denser development and the train station in the lowlands. The hilly terrain has historically limited pedestrian access to the downtown and station.

Proposed Boylan Terrace Neighborhood Pedestrian Connection. Courtesy of the Borough of Bernardsville, NJ

The Borough has recently prioritized creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment, adopting its Complete Streets policy in 2022 and securing $1.4 million in potential federal funds for a walkway linking Boylan Terrace with the station. The project included a pedestrian bridge, ADA-compliant ramps, and sidewalk and crossings upgrades. However, funding delays and arduous requirements led the Borough to reject the federal dollars in favor of state funding in 2025. Transit Village designation is expected to further support these infrastructure efforts.

Station Development

In 2022, the Bernardsville Borough Council approved plans to sublease the Bernardsville Station building—owned by NJ TRANSIT—to a local restaurateur to open Pizzeria Tâton, a pizzeria and cocktail lounge. Originally expected to open in 2023, the project faced delays due to necessary rooftop renovations—estimated at $650,000—that prevented the restaurant from opening. Despite the expected costs, council members supported the plan to activate the station area and support downtown revitalization. NJ TRANSIT is working on plans to replace the station roof and other related structural elements as required.

Other Projects

Bernardsville Station. Google Street View

Beyond the redevelopment, infrastructure, and station plans, Bernardsville has initiated projects to draw interest to the downtown and help meet affordable housing requirements. In 2022, the Borough launched a self-guided “Walking Museum” tour, where visitors to the downtown could scan QR codes on historic buildings to learn about its history.

Additionally, Bernardsville recently approved its Fair Share Housing Plan to support its affordable housing requirements for the 4^th Round of the Mount Laurel Doctrine. Given limited space, the Borough plans to prioritize all-affordable, gentle density developments near the train station.

Building Bernardsville’s Future

Despite past delays, Bernardsville has steadily advanced initiatives that reinforce its downtown as a transit-oriented hub. With Transit Village designation, the Borough can access resources and support to accelerate pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, encourage mixed-use development, and activate the station area. These tools will help Bernardsville to strengthen its downtown TOD area, attract new residents and business, and realize its vision of a compact, vibrant, and walkability community.

“We have a downtown. I want to make the most out of that and create a community center where people come and meet each other, and just enjoy what we have to offer,” said Mayor Canose.

Bernardsville. A New Jersey Transit Village.

The New Jersey Department of Transportation’s designation of the Bernardsville Station area as a Transit Village underscores Bernardsville’s commitment to leveraging transit for downtown revitalization. The Transit Village Initiative supports the development of compact, mixed-use communities that reduce car dependency and promote walkability. In Bernardsville, this designation has aligned with multiple initiatives advancing pedestrian-friendly infrastructure, smart growth and TOD efforts.