Board Works To Save House

The priority remains saving the second oldest house in the second oldest municipality in Morris County.

The Morris Township Planning Board authorized its professionals to draft both a resolution of approval and a deed restriction in an attempt to insure the preservation of a home belonging to Robert Dempsey.

Dempsey is selling his property on School House Lane. He applied for permission to subdivide his lot after finding that people interested in buying the entire parcel wanted to tear down his historic home to build a larger house. He told the planning board he believed subdividing to create a 41,697-square-foot lot in Morris Township and a 3-acre lot in Mendham Township would best preserve the house.

Neighbors objected to the subdivision, claiming it would not have the desired effect and would allow for the construction of a large house in Mendham Township which could exacerbate runoff problems.

The proposed subdivision is along the township border as established by Mendham Township. The two municipalities disagree as to the exact dividing line.

Planning board members authorized their attorney, Brian Burns and other professionals to draft a resolution to approve the subdivision and to draft a deed restriction prohibiting a purchaser from tearing down the house. The board wants the deed restriction to include limitations on any additions that can be added to the house and on materials used in renovations so the historic look of the house is preserved.

Board member Craig Goss said he did some research on Dempsey's house and found it is the second oldest house in the township still standing. He pointed out Morris is the second oldest municipality in the county.

To that end, the township’s Historic Preservation Commission and the Washington Valley Community Association will review the deed restriction before the planning board votes on it, Mayor Scott Rosenbush said.

The board will look at Burns’ drafts and possibly vote on them at the Jan. 9 meeting.