The Howell Township Council canceled its meeting scheduled for tonight, where public hearings were set to be held on three controversial ordinances, citing concerns that large crowd would violate New Jersey’s Open Public Meetings Act, commonly known as the Sunshine Law.

Township officials announced the cancellation shortly after the meeting began, after hundreds of residents arrived to attend the hearing.

According to officials, the size of the crowd exceeded the capacity of the meeting room as well as an overflow room, preventing the public from being adequately accommodated in accordance with state transparency requirements.

The ordinances under consideration had generated significant public interest and opposition in recent weeks, prompting large turnout expectations from residents seeking to voice their opinions during the hearings.

Under New Jersey’s Sunshine Law, public bodies are required to ensure meetings are open and reasonably accessible to the public. Officials determined proceeding under the circumstances could have exposed the township to legal challenges if residents were unable to gain access to the meeting.

No immediate rescheduled date for the hearings was announced Tuesday night.

Prior to cancelling the meeting, the council passed the municipal budget.

Township officials said additional information regarding the rescheduling of the meeting and public hearings would be released in the coming days.