Red Bulls Training Facility Officially Approved For Morris Township

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ — After a lengthy battle before the Morris Township Planning Board, the New York Red Bulls' proposal to build a training facility on Columbia Turnpike received final site approval.

After more than a year of public meetings and revisions, the team's proposal, which will be built on the former Honeywell Industries headquarters, was unanimously approved on Nov. 21.

"Since August, the Township’s Planning Board has undergone the site plan review process, with participation from the public, for the Red Bulls Training Facility application. Construction of the facility is expected to commence in the coming months," Mayor Mark Gyorfy said.

Following public input at several meetings, the final site plans include six grass fields, an agility training area, two turf fields, an indoor half-field, a field house, pro and academy buildings, dormitory buildings and other various support buildings.

Residents who live nearby have been concerned about the increase in overnight or late night lighting throughout the process. The Red Bulls plan to address that is to add fencing as well as other measures such as a "planting buffer" of different trees to block some of the overhead light from the surrounding neighborhoods.

Read more: Concerns Raised Over Athletic Training Facility In Morris Township

"I'm sure if I'm a homeowner living right next door I might not be thrilled. I live in an area that's going to be developed and we're not crazy about the development that comes in… We have the right to modify the application to make it the best application it could be. I think the applicants done a great job of listening to objections and addressing them," planning board member Joseph Alesso said.

The total cost of the project is estimated to be around $112 million, Michael Tobia, the applicant's planner, said at a previous planning board meeting. The 80-acre site should begin construction soon and be completed within the next couple of years, narrowly missing their initial target opening date of 2024.

"I think we are really fortunate in the township here, to have members of the public who can bring such a high level of scrutiny to the application. I find the buildings, for the most part, architecturally appealing. The care they went through to make everything aesthetically pleasing is really appreciated, " planning board member Jesse Flowers said.

According to the Red Bulls, the Major League Soccer squad and their second-tier team — Red Bulls II — will utilize the complex. The facility will also become home to the New York Red Bulls Academy and Youth Training programs — North America's leading youth-soccer development system.

The Red Bulls have based training operations in Hanover since 2013. The club's first team will continue to play Major League Soccer games at Harrison's Red Bull Arena. The new training complex will be located at the former Honeywell site off of Columbia Road, within one mile of the Route 24 interchange with County Road 510.