Is Morristown too tall? Zoning update seeks to rein in building height, 'stacked' condos
MORRISTOWN — The Town Council approved a measure that would cut the maximum height of new buildings throughout Morristown and seek to encourage more historic preservation, among other amendments, in the the first changes to the town's land development ordinance in five years.
The council voted 6-1 in favor of the revisions Tuesday, with Robert Iannaccone the lone opposition vote. The decision followed a presentation by town planner Phil Abramson detailing the changes to the zoning code, which was last updated in 2018.
The ordinance still requires a second approval by the council. A public hearing will be held at the next council meeting May 9.
The code is part of the "Morristown Moving Forward" master plan, introduced in 2014 before being reexamined in 2018 and 2022. State law requires each municipality to reexamine its master plan at least every 10 years, but Morristown's building boom in recent years has led to more frequent updates.
"Because of the level of activity in Morristown and the pace of change here, we felt like it was the prudent thing to do," Abramson said.
Plan details
Abramson's plan recommended reducing the maximum height of future properties in the Town Center zoning district, on Speedwell Avenue across from Headquarters Plaza, from six stories to four stories. The Morristown Green area previously had a six-story limit that changed to five in the 2018 zoning amendments.
The new code plans out Morristown's zones as a "series of doughnuts," Abramson said. The map begins with the five-story maximum in the center of town and eventually tapers down to three stories at most in the outskirts.
"The town has been toying with this idea for 20 years or more," Abramson said. "We all recognize that the center of town, the Green, is the height of intensity. (The maximum) was six stories previously, it's five stories now, and how do we step it down?"
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Additional changes include the creation of historic preservation incentives to discourage demolition of old buildings, and prohibiting "stacked" townhouses, a cross between townhouses and condos where each unit has its own front door.
The updates also feature clearer guidelines on outdoor dining and how it differs from sidewalk cafes. It includes a section on setting up a system to regulate on-street valet parking, which would be a conditional use in the Town Center after previously not being regulated at all.
Council member's concerns
Iannaccone said he liked the new plan for encouraging preservation and restoration of historic structures in Morristown. However, he questioned why the updated zoning code around Morris Street only applied to the small sliver of Blachley Place, between Morris and Elm streets, and not for at least the full block.
Iannaccone noted residents' concerns about turning Morris Street into a "canyon" surrounded by large buildings. Keeping the maximum height in the area at three stories, rather than the proposal to raise the height, would also "preserve the visibility of the train station," another key historic structure in town, he said.
"Give that some thought," Iannaccone told Abramson prior to the vote, adding, "We're going to disagree on this, I'll tell you that."
Tuesday's ordinance was contingent on a review by the Morristown Planning Boar to ensure the changes comply with the master plan. The board was scheduled to consider the zoning amendments on Thursday evening.
Kyle Morel is a local reporter covering Morris and Sussex counties.
Email: kmorel@njherald.com; Twitter: @KMorelNJH
This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Morristown NJ planner proposes changes to zoning ordinance
