By Laura D.C. Kolnoski
EATONTOWN – Netflix will bring a team of professionals to the Eatontown Planning Board at 7 p.m. on successive Mondays, Aug. 4 and 11, for a two-part presentation of its plans for Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth.
The meetings are a continuation from November and December, when the entertainment company presented to Oceanport twice and Eatontown once about Phase 1A of the complex. If the August sessions are run similarly, experts in civil engineering, traffic and more will provide details with the aid of slides and architectural drawings and take questions from board members and the public.
Netflix is seeking final major site plan approval, part of the mandated 36-month process before finalizing its purchase of 292 acres of Fort Monmouth covering por- tions of the two boroughs to construct a 12-soundstage production facility. It is the firm’s second-largest facility after Albuquerque, New Mex- ico. When completed, it will also include a mill, office and production buildings, a warehouse and a backlot within a secured perimeter wall.
The meetings will follow standard planning board procedures, officials said. The public will have the opportunity to ask questions during the hearing. Public comment is generally offered later in the process and not during the applicant presentation.
Netflix is striving to close on what’s known as the Mega Parcel with the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA) sooner than originally projected, potentially by the end of the year, sources have told The Two River Times. Construction would begin next year and take about three years to complete, an accelerated timeline from the originally predicted seven- to 10-year buildout. In addition to Oceanport and Eatontown, Netflix must also obtain approvals from Monmouth County, state agencies and the state Attorney General’s office.
Netflix’s plans have al- ready been approved by FMERA, the state agency overseeing the fort’s redevelopment. The host municipalities govern site plan and variance issues, while Monmouth County oversees county roads like Route 537. Generally, FMERA’s decisions supersede those of the municipalities.
“This project is subject to FMERA’s land and use rules and Reuse Plan,” explained Kara Kopach, FMERA executive director. “The municipalities had an opportunity to provide feedback during a 45-day public comment period, and FMERA made modifications to the Reuse Plan based on those comments. (Netflix’s plan) was unanimously adopted by the FMERA board, which includes the mayors of each municipality.”
Netflix will pay $55 million for the site, which runs mainly down the middle of the fort from Route 35 to Oceanport Avenue. The complex will be built in phases, each required to navigate the same approval process, with four soundstages in Oceanport and eight in Eatontown. Although Fort Monmouth’s 1,126 total acres encompasses portions of Eatontown, Oceanport and Tinton Falls, none of the Netflix complex will fall within Tinton Falls’ borders. Netflix expects to invest some $900 million in the project. Demolition of over 80 obsolete fort structures by Netflix is well underway, granted by FMERA prior to closing.
Oceanport’s four soundstages will be located around a renovated and expanded McAfee Center along Route 537. The borough granted one variance for the size and location of identifying building signs, and waivers for raising the height of streetlights from 18 to 25 feet and an outdoor bicycle parking area.
“The process was fair,” said Oceanport Mayor Tom Tvrdik, adding, “Netflix did a great job, making concessions and listening to the board and public.”
The Oceanport Planning/Zoning Board unanimously approved Phase 1A after over five hours of testimony in two meetings last year. A month later, by unanimous vote, the Eatontown Planning Board granted its preliminary site plan approval for Phase 1A. Echoing Oceanport, Eatontown officials expressed concerns about operating hours, traffic, landscaping and aesthetics of the perimeter wall.
Kenneth Falcon, Netflix’s senior manager for Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth, said the complex is allowed to operate 24/7. While the studio technically doesn’t close, it’s not always generating traffic, he said, adding union members work in 12- hour shifts and some productions film offsite. The bulk of activity is expected to occur between 5 a.m. and 11 p.m. and studio opera- tions will comply with state and local guidelines regarding lighting and sound.
As a condition of final approval, Eatontown Mayor Anthony Talerico Jr. wanted assurances that streetlights and landscaping would be uniform throughout Eatontown and Oceanport.
Employees will include management, security and about 200 to 500 cast and crew members, depending on the production. Up to two productions can happen simultaneously. On weekends, the studios will be populated primarily by maintenance, management and security staff.
About 546 planned parking spaces include EV and golf cart spaces. Netflix is working with the county and state to widen and improve roads in and around the complex. A heliport is allowed. Falcon said that is still being considered, but “it will not be in Oceanport.”
Reached Monday, a Netflix spokesperson declined to comment prior to the presentations.
Fort Monmouth, a U.S. Army base in operation for 100 years, was shuttered by the federal government in 2011. The fort’s redevelopment has been ongoing for over a decade, with over 86% of the property either sold, under contract or in the purchase process.
The article originally appeared in the July 31 – August 6, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
