Two Committeemen Speak Out Against Township Plaza Plan

To the Editor:

As longtime residents of the Fairchild community, we wanted to share our viewpoint regarding the Township Plaza development.  This is an older neighborhood with older homes, buildings and streets.    To that end, we, as concerned citizens, feel the current application is far too dense for this area.

There are several reasons for our position.

1.      Loss of On-Street Parking for Existing Residents:  Presently, this location is not causing traffic issues.  However, should there be the slated seven apartments built, we can expect at least seven vehicles, maybe more.  The new personal training business will undoubtedly increase their clientele base which will lead to more vehicles entering and exiting that site.  There will inevitably be other commercial users interested in moving into this newer, more attractive space.  Once again, bringing more traffic to our roads.  According to New Jersey State law, there is a need for forty four parking spaces at this location with the proposed build-out; however, the variance request is for only twenty nine.  With two handicapped spaces needed and at least seven more for the apartment dwellers, parking will be limited and where will the overflow parking go?  Sherman Avenue.  Although we have a municipal lot on Speedwell Avenue, the reality is that the
 convenience of not paying a fee and parking closer to their destination is exactly what will occur.  This variance will cause a loss of on-street parking for the residents.

2.      Loss of Buffer Trees: Already the once beautiful tree-line buffers have been removed from the back area of these properties.  With this loss, residents are exposed to the back of the commercial property, Speedwell Avenue traffic and potential apartment dwellers in an easy sight-line into their 2nd floor bedrooms.  This buffer was taken down because there was a need to create additional parking.

3.      Safety Hazards:   The Morris Township Police Department and Fire
Department have issued reports on this redevelopment project.  The Police Department strongly expressed concerns with the inevitable increase in traffic.  The Fire Department indicated that there would need to be a Fire Lane created for emergency response vehicles.  It is unclear if twenty-nine parking spaces, a Fire Lane, a tree line buffer and dumpsters will all be able to fit on this property.

We are standing with our neighbors on this issue because the proposed project and its density will negatively impact the entire surrounding neighborhood.

While we understand that the property owner would like to transform these three buildings into something different, it should not be done to the detriment of the Fairchild section’s character and the resident’s quality of life. The cost (loss of parking for our residents, increased number of apartments, loss of buffer trees and safety hazards) is just not worth it for this area. This proposed application is simply too dense for our neighborhood.

Kathleen Snyder         
Raymond Snyder

Kathleen Sisler         
Bruce Sisler