Attorney: Not Time for Committee to Talk About Honeywell Yet

The township committee can’t discuss potential master plan amendments before they are referred to the governing body by the township planning board.

That was the substance of an explanation Township Attorney John Mills gave at the Morris Township committee meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 15.

Mills agreed to talk about the possibility of the committee receiving an amendment because the board has drafted a master plan amendment at the request of . Honeywell wants to redevelop its international headquarters property in ways not allowed under the present master plan and zoning ordinance. Residents of the township are concerned about environmental, fiscal and, especially, traffic impacts of redevelopment.

The planners will send the amendment to the township committee for adoption or rejection, but Mills said any discussion by members of the committee until they see the board’s final draft would be inappropriate.

Mills explained after the land use element of the master plan is in place, it is up to the township committee to adopt the zoning ordinance and official map. Each municipality is required to review its master plan every six years. In addition, the planning board can examine a part of the plan at the request of a landowner as was done when Honeywell asked.

In answer to a question from Committeeman Jeff Grayzel, Mills said the township committee can ignore a recommended zoning change, but would have to pass a resolution listing the reasons for its action.

He assured the residents present that all actions the township committee will take on a proposed master plan amendment or zoning change would be done in public session.