Politics & Government
Newly Formed Group Has Concerns About Honeywell Development Plans
Local residents worried about effects of plan.
This is the first column from a newly formed group, Citizens for Better Planning in Morris Township, launched by township resident Michele Demarest. The group's goal, according to Demarest, is "to address township planning issues related to a General Development Plan proposed by Honeywell International." has proposed a major build-out on its 147-acre campus located on Columbia Road in Morris Township, to include some combination of additional office space, residential units, a continuing-care retirement community, a hotel, and parking decks or lots.
Citizens for Better Planning in Morris Township can be contacted at citizens4bettertownshiplanning@gmail.com.
From Michele Demarest:
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I recently moved back to New Jersey after 20 years. I love New Jersey and am glad to be back in Morris County. This area is great for so many reasons but especially, because, unlike so many places, the character of the community is reflected in the beauty of our historical township.
When I drive home from work, I drive past the wetlands on Route 24 and am greeted by the great lawn of the Honeywell property on Columbia Turnpike as I drive up the hill toward Morristown. It is then I always think, "This is where the insanity that is town planning in New Jersey ends!"
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Well, that is what I used to think anyway.
Recently, Honeywell International has proposed to undertake a General Development Plan (GDP) that would enable a spot zoning change. With the recommendation of the Township Planning Board, Honeywell is set to apply for rezoning to allow the 147-acre site to change from office and laboratory (OL40) to multi-use zoning (which would allow both commercial and residential construction). Currently their proposal includes a 250-room hotel, continuing care facility, 311 residential stacked units and a 416-room retirement facility.
So now, when I come up the turnpike, I wonder how different the area would look if this plan moves forward. I also wonder if I will have more time to think about it as increased traffic would surely increase my commute time.
I live in one of the many neighborhoods adjacent to Honeywell's property and their proposal concerns me greatly. In speaking with my neighbors I found that I was not alone in my concerns for the increased traffic, additional public school students, infrastructure expense to the Morris Township budget, noise pollution and difficulties that might be posed by disturbing the ponds containing toxic chemicals being remediated under the EPA's watch.
Moreover, I learned that at the Nov. 28 planning board meeting, Honeywell's experts presented potential estimates of traffic and student increases that seemed out of kilter with the reality that such dense development would engender. It seems to me that allowing this plan to move forward would set the area to look far more like a crowded part of Union or Bergen counties than Morris County.
Would the jobs of the 1200 employees at this site be in jeopardy if the GDP were denied? Govenor Christie has provided an over $2,000 tax incentive per worker over the next 6 years under the Business Retention and Relocation Assistance Act Grants to keep Honeywell International on the current property.
They have stated that they are staying. However, it seems difficult to believe that Honeywell would not sell at least part of the property to a developer once the proposed revisions to the Master Plan are made. The new owner would then be able to build whatever structures that zoning permits. These concessions to spot zoning would allow Honeywell to maximize its profit (certainly it has a right to do so) but would almost inevitably do so at a cost to our community.
What legacy would Honeywell leave the community with which it has partnered over the years? The cost would not just be aesthetic–although it would be that!
In Morris County, several reports detail how the "ratables chase" fails to lower or stabilize tax burden, as certain types of construction inevitably raise taxes despite an increase in ratables. A spot zoning change could mean quadruple jeopardy to the residents of Morris Township—not only will the State lose revenue, but our township will be set up to bear greater tax burden.
Costs will be incurred by the outcomes of poor land use planning; planning not in accordance with our approved Master Plan or the Highlands Act. Housing values in the immediate area may also decline as "charm" value is depleted due to years of ongoing construction. Worried residents have already noted that the decline would be over and above the general decline in real estate nationally. They suggest that reappraisals of our tax assessments are needed due to the enormity of the original proposal. Indeed, the proposal just being on the table may be enough to drop home values. Nevertheless, some neighbors have noted that their home values have already been adjusted upward this year.
Tonight the Township Planning Board is holding a meeting at Morris Township's Town Hall (50 Woodland Avenue, 7:30pm). At this meeting Honeywell is expected to provide further information regarding traffic and environmental questions. There will also be time for your public comment. In order for your question/comment to be included in the official record you must present it to the Planning Board in person. If you were one of the nearly 200 citizens who stood up at the last Morris Township Planning Board Meeting (which ended after midnight) or are just becoming aware of the impact that Honeywell Internationals' proposal could have on living in our township, tonight would be a good time to participate.
That the Planning Board may approve a General Development Plan (GDP) is embodied in a legal statute. However, prior to approval of a GDP the board must find that the proposed development "will not have an unreasonably adverse impact upon the area in which it is proposed to be established".
At the town council meeting this past Wednesday, I presented a petition which is still in circulation to the township committee. We were told that "theoretically" the planning board could vote on recommending the proposal at tonight's meeting, but that officials did not expect a vote. They stressed to us that they needed to continue discussing this with all stakeholders.
Our representative on the Planning Board are Mayor Scott Rosenbush and committee member Dan Cafferty: they can encourage the appointed members of the Planning Board to ONLY allow planning that is consistent with the voice of the electorate. Our elected officials are the gatekeepers who may permit or deny Honeywell's proposal.
I hope this column will provide a truly public forum to post opinions, reports and other factual and relevant information. I hope to soon make available information about the planning board's process, which the Mayor and Planning Board Chairman Richard Haan have been invited to supply for this column.