Suit against Kushner mall project faces uphill battle, judge says

FREEHOLD -- Four residents suing to stop a development plan from Jared Kushner's family's real estate company face an "uphill battle" to prove their case, a judge said.

Superior Judge Lisa Thorton said Monday during the first day of the trial that it's hard to see that there was a violation to the state's open public meetings law that would lead her to overturn the company's zoning approvals, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Kushner Cos., which is owned by the family of President Donald Trump's son-in-law and senior adviser, hopes to build hundreds of rental apartments atop a mall parking lot in what it calls an effort to save its shopping development in Eatontown and provide affordable housing.

Four have sued to overturn the zoning approvals that the company needs, arguing that the public was not able to properly participate in the meeting where the zoning was approved because dozens of people in an overflow crowd had to watch from a hot firehouse next to borough hall.

Read more: http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2017/07/suit_against_kushner_mall_project_faces_uphill_bat.html