By Laura D.C. Kolnoski
EATONTOWN – Last week’s unanimous approval by the Eatontown Planning Board means Netflix can proceed with the largest portion of its planned production studio on Fort Monmouth.
The public got a preview of Phase 1B – eight twin soundstages, three mill buildings, a 5-acre backlot, production support areas and offices on 47.5 acres – at the Sept. 2 meeting.
The presentation began with a CGI video fly-through, the first comprehensive view of the studio complex planned for almost 300 of Fort Monmouth’s 1,126 acres. (Township and Netflix officials noted the CGI file is currently too large to provide links, and they are working to upload it to the borough website and netflixnewjersey.com.)
Phase 1A – four soundstages, two mills, a backlot and additional support structures – is to be located within Oceanport’s borders and was approved late last year. The targeted timeline would see Phase 1A open in 2027, with Phase 1B operational mid-2028. Netflix hopes to close on the property by year’s end after obtaining remaining approvals from the municipalities, county and state. Demolition of over 80 obsolete buildings on the former U.S. Army base is ongoing through special agreement with the Fort Monmouth Economic Revitalization Authority (FMERA).
The main entrance will retain the brick Johnson Gates at Route 35, adding “N Plaza,” a 73-foot by 40- foot publicly accessible areawith tables and chairs and a canopy depicting Netflix’s red N logo. Beyond is a “pocket park” with a trellised area that links to the public walkway and a detention basin with a fountain. The walkway will link to the perimeter multi-use path that will encircle most of the fort when all redevelopments are completed.
Monuments and ‘Moments’
Netflix unveiled a new plan to relocate the 117 concrete monuments along Route 537 (Avenue of Memories through the fort) to Cowan Park in the Oceanport section, also along the public path. “Moments” recounting highlights of the fort’s 100-year history will no longer be on the perimeter security wall, but rather on 6.5-foot-high by 2.5-foot-wide stone pillars placed along the walkway. Netflix has engaged Melissa Ziobro, a history professor at Monmouth University who authored “Fort Monmouth: The US Army’s House of Magic,” (2024, Brookline Books), to write the moments.
Additional historic recognitions will be added to significant structures like the McAfee Center and Vail Hall, which will be reused. The McAfee Center is being renovated and expanded for production-related operations, while Vail Hall will be used for studio support, business offices and visitor check-in.
More Specifics Revealed
The eight 70-foot-high soundproof soundstages are housed in four buildings of two soundstages each with movable walls, surrounded by three 35-foot-tall metal mill buildings. Two-story offices will be attached to the soundstages. Four structures for creative personnel will be constructed to look like residential homes so they can be used in filming.
“(The houses) will be built in different styles that can be dressed for Christmas and other scenes,” said Kenneth Falcon, program manager of Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth. Central base camps will accommodate craft services and hair and make-up trailers.
While a heliport is allowed, Falcon said, “We are not asking for a heliport at this time.”
“Netflix would have to come back with another application (for a heliport),” said Eatontown Mayor Anthony Talerico Jr.
Route 537 through the fort will be widened to county standards to three lanes and two 6-foot shoulders with sidewalks on both sides. A double left-turn will egress onto Route 35 South under New Jersey Department of Transportation guidelines. The studio complex will have 24/7 security, rotating guards, motion sensors and cameras and will not be open to the public.
Eatontown approved two variances and several waiversafter the almost four-hour meeting. The variances were the same granted by Oceanport – one to allow some buildings to have exterior glazing, and the second to enlarge the size of identifying exterior building signs. Waivers were granted for building posters referencing specific productions, driveway width, the residential-look offices, and the 11 stone “Moments” pillars.
Several residents in the full meeting room took to the microphone primarily to discuss traffic, potential flooding and proximity of studio operations – as well as the public walkway – to nearby homes. Talerico stressed the borough has no jurisdiction over Route 35 traffic outside the fort’s gates, and the walkway was mandated in the fort’s master plan since its inception. Netflix’s civil engineer Chris Cirrotti said proximity to residences ranges from 110 to 1,230 feet.
“Storm basins have been designed to handle runoff following Department of Environmental Protection standards,” Cirrotti said, adding that impervious coverage is two-thirds of what is allowed. “There will be no negative impact on neighbors. We are decreasing the runoff from the site.” Automatic sprinklers sensitive to rain events will be installed among plantings.
Talerico said New Jersey is working on new codes for film studios that will apply statewide. “There is a lot of pending legislation,” he said. “Until then, local ordinances apply.”
In October, Netflix is expected to introduce its plans for Phase 2A for the “400 Area” across Oceanport Avenue in the waterfront “Gooseneck” section of Oceanport. Mayor Tom Tvrdik said he expects much of that site to be used for backlots.
“We are very anxious to get in,” Falcon said. “We have 11 productions shooting in New Jersey right now.” The company will pay $55 million for the site and expects to invest some $900 million.
“The Eatontown Planning Board’s approval of the next phase of Netflix Studios Fort Monmouth marks a significant step forward in our efforts to bring world-class film and television production to New Jersey,” a Netflix spokesperson said. “We are excited to continue working closely with local officials and the community as we bring this studio to life.”
The article originally appeared in the September 11 – September 17, 2025 print edition of The Two River Times.
