'Conflict of Interest' Causes Honeywell Hearing Delay

Ordinance will be reintroduced Wednesday, first public hearing will be Aug. 15.

A potential conflict of interest will force the Morris Township Committee to re-introduce the Honeywell zoning ordinance on Wednesday night, causing the public hearings to be postponed, the township administrator said. The nature of the conflict will be discussed at Wednesday's meeting, Township Administrator Timothy Quinn said. Quinn said in a statement that the township attorney determined the conflict could have prevented one of the township committee members from participating in the scheduled hearing. "It is anticipated that the ordinance will be reintroduced on Aug. 1 and the public hearing and final consideration will commence at the regularly scheduled township committee meeting on Aug. 15," Quinn said in the statement. …

•  13 Comments
• Photos (1)

Rob Burke

7:30 pm on Thursday, August 2, 2012

You can get arrested for that...   more ›

Honeywell Scales Back Redevelopment Plan

Controversial hotel, stacked condo plans dropped.

Honeywell International has announced on its website that it has revised its plans to redevelop its Morris Township campus.   "We've eliminated both a proposed hotel and stacked townhouses, reduced residential zone density on campus by up to 30%, lowered peak hour traffic to the site by roughly 15%, and cut the number of school-aged children anticipated in the proposed residential communities by 25%. The new plan accomplishes all this while still generating $1.1 million in tax revenue for Morris Township."  The web site says that Honeywell representatives will make an appearance at the Morris Township Planning Board meeting on August 15 at 7:30 in the municipal building. The following stories represent Patch's coverage of the project to …

• Photos (1)

Whether Pro or Con, Opinions Are Strong On Redevelopment of Honeywell Property

Next meeting coming up on March 7.

Whether they are for or against Honeywell International's plan to redevelop the property around its corporate headquarters in Morris Township, people are talking about the proposal. Patch took the opportunity to interview some of them as the date of the third special planning board meeting–March 7–approaches. The first three interviews are recounted here. First, a brief review:  Honeywell International hopes to get approval for a large, multi-year redevelopment of its 147 acre property, located at the intersection of Columbia Turnpike and Park Avenue. The company hopes to get approval to tear down underutilized buildings, update and modernize other buildings and bring in developers to construct some combination of townhouses, additional …

• Photos (1)

Opinions: Citizens for Better Planning in Morris Township

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." Honeywell 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: I recently moved back to New Jersey after 20 …

•  4 Comments
• Photos (1)

Honeywell Responds to Petition Against Redevelopment Plans

Company: Plan "offers significant benefits."

Honeywell International has responded to an  online petition against the proposed redevelopment of its property in Morris Township, saying the plan "offers significant benefits." The petition, posted on the electronic petition site, gopetition.com, is reprinted in full below. In an email to Patch, Rob Ferris, who heads up Honeywell's external communications, supplied the following response: "Honeywell Statement" "Our proposed plan for a mixed use site offers significant benefits to the Morris Township community, including tripling tax revenue. We expect it to create more than 1,000 new private and public local jobs, offer 3 miles of public pedestrian trails, establish more energy efficient, LEED certified buildings, and provide other …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

Petition Circulating Against Honeywell Redevelopment

Petition warns against township becoming "test site for corporate greed and unwanted development."

A petition against Honeywell's proposed redevelopment of the property surrounding its corporate headquarters in Morris Township has been circulating online. It was posted on the electronic petition site, gopetition.com, and reads as follows: Target: Morris Township Planning Board and Honeywell International Background (Preamble): Honeywell International is proposing a "General Development Plan" (GDP) that will result in significant rezoning and increase development on 147-acre property off Columbia Turnpike in Morris township.  Currently proposed are a 250-ROOM HOTEL, CONTINUING CARE FACILITY, 311 RESIDENTIAL STACKED UNITS, a 416 ROOM RETIREMENT FACILITY and other buildings. Any rezoning will greatly change the character of the property …

• Photos (1)

Morris Twp. Mayor: Residents Should Come Hear About Honeywell Expansion Monday

Redevelopment plan by Honeywell under consideration.

Mayor H. Scott Rosenbush of Morris Township has put out the word: he'd like to see as many residents as possible at a special planning board meeting Monday night, at 7:30 p.m. in the municipal building. The issue: Honeywell International's desire to embark on a large, multi-year redevelopment of the property around its corporate headquarters, located at the intersection of Columbia Turnpike and Park Avenue. "This will be a special meeting," addressing only the Honeywell project, Rosenbush said. "I would like the public to be aware of it, come to the meeting and get an idea of what's being discussed." Rosenbush said Honeywell has showed the township two plans for possible development of the site. In both scenarios, "they would keep their …

• Photos (2)