Revisions To Affordable Housing Proposed In Morristown

MORRISTOWN, NJ — In an effort to maximize the opportunities for affordable housing in the Morristown area, the town council introduced an ordinance amending the town's land development ordinance.

The ordinance's goal is to require developers to include all of their moderate and affordable housing units on-site rather than offloading some of them.

Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty clarified that even though it is referred to as off-site," the properties are still in Morristown.

Councilman Stefan Armington explained during the June 27 meeting that too many units were being concentrated in the Second Ward rather than being distributed throughout the town.

"For as long as I can remember, the zoning code has allowed that up to half of the required affordable housing for any development could be off-site, with the approval of the planning board or the governing body. What we've seen over the last 10–12 years when that's happened is that affordable housing is focused on the Second Ward, where the land prices are least expensive," Armington said.

The council stated that most of the redevelopment projects have been on-site but that there is still an opportunity for developers to go off-site, which the council wants to negate.

The measure, which passed 6-0 with Councilwoman Toshiba Foster absent, is scheduled for Planning Board review later this month, with a final public hearing planned for Aug. 8.

The June 27 meeting heavily discussed changes to the current Land Use Ordinance, including a reintroduction of an ordinance that limits the height of new construction on Blachley Place and portions of Speedwell Avenue, as well as South, Washington, Market, and Bank streets.

• Read related: Cap On Building Heights Discussed By Morristown Council

The measure follows a presentation by town planner Phil Abramson in April, during which council members voted on revisions to Morristown's land development code. However, the ordinance was not adopted by the council by its original advertised date of May 9, so it was reintroduced during the June 27 meeting.