Testimony For 186 New Housing Units Pushed Back In Mendham

MENDHAM, NJ — Public comment on two hotly debated potential housing developments has been pushed back once more.

The applications for the proposed housing developments at the Sisters of Christian Charity convent on Bernardsville Road and at the old Mendham Racquet Club site will no longer be heard at the upcoming Joint Land Use Board meeting.

Two applications were submitted to the borough in late February: one for the conversion of the nearly century-old convent and surrounding buildings into a 111-unit housing development and the other for a 75-unit housing development.

Following the release of the plans, several residents expressed their concerns about the two projects on social media, citing their large scope.

Both applications were pulled at the last minute by their applicants prior to the February Joint Land Use Board meeting to make additional changes.

Testimony for the application was later moved and heard at the March 21 meeting, but public comment on the two projects was not heard. According to a recent borough announcement, the two applications will not be on the agenda for the April 18 Joint Land Use Board meeting.

One of the applicants, V-Fee Mendham Apartments LLC, is looking for approval for the construction of a multi-story residential development at 84 E. Main Street, with a maximum height of 60 feet.

The breakdown of the units includes 15 affordable housing units and 60 market-rate units.

Some residents have previously expressed concerns about the building's height on social media. Because the surrounding shopping area is made up of one-story buildings, the addition of a 60-foot structure has some people concerned about the contrast.

The redevelopment of the Sisters of Christian Charity convent on Bernardsville Road calls for the construction of 94 residential units, 88 of which are market-rate and six of which are affordable units.

The developer also plans to convert some of the existing accessory buildings into 17 affordable residential units, bringing the total number of residential units to 111, including 23 affordable housing units.

Pickleball courts, a swimming pool, shuffleboard courts, a barbecue area, and several lawn and terrace areas are also named as possible amenities for the property.

This application was originally submitted on Dec. 20, 2022, but has since been revised, officials said.

The Sisters of Christian Charity have served the church and the local community on the former Cromwell Estate since the 1920s. The religious order was founded in Germany in 1849 and has had a presence in the United States since 1873.

To view the full application, click here.