City Leaders Advance Zoning Reform For Site Of Old Firehouse In Summit

SUMMIT, NJ — The City of Summit Planning Board unanimously voted to move a new rezoning ordinance forward this week for the Morris Broad Crossroads Overlay area.

The meeting was held as part of a consistency review, which ensures ordinances align with the greater goals to enhance a municipality. The site, located near Morris Avenue, Ashwood Avenue and Broad Street, includes land from the old firehouse, the Chestnut parking area, an office building, and a privately-owned parking lot.

City Planner Tom Behrens laid out the plan that would revert the development of the site back to specifications originally desired by the city and an affordable housing developer. These include 48 residential units totaling 80,000 square feet of property, more flexible parking requirements, an adjusted three-story height requirement to accommodate an office building with 14-foot-high ceilings, and other terminology alterations. The current ordinance outlines a mixed-use site comprised of market-rate and affordable housing options that would not grow beyond 20 total resident units.

The City says they are looking to accomplish two things with their repeal:

1. Adjust to account for certain dimensional requirements that would allow the city to take control of the whole lot
2. To modify the lot from an "overlay" zone to an "actual" zone, which would make this plan the only possible zoning framework that a prospective developer can utilize

"We believe this will be a significant aesthetic advancement to the site," Behrens said, as a result of a few "minor tweaks." The entire lot measures one-and-a-half acres, and includes the site of the old firehouse, Chestnut parking area, an office building, and a privately-owned parking lot.

In June 2024, the City created the Morris Broad Crossroads Overlay zone based on community input and the mission to achieve four goals:

1. To repurpose the site after the relocation of the firehouse
2. To generate revenue from the sale to a potential developer and annual tax revenue
3. To fulfill requirements to accommodate affordable housing in the area
4. To add public parking
5. To develop the site in a unified design theme that is consistent with Summit

A developer came to the City with their own plan for the site that would include multiple affordable housing units. Under the state's Fair Housing Act, Summit had to file a Declaratory Judgment Complaint by Jan. 31 in order to participate in the program. Despite rumors that Summit was up against multiple lawsuits, the only one filed was this one that they themselves submitted.

Councilwoman Delia Hamlet denounced the misinformation spreading online at the Sept. 9 meeting and added, "I want to dispel the rumor that there's three lawsuits out for the City. It's not good for the city and it needs to stop."

According to Summit's Affordable Housing Attorney Nancy Holm, there were three challenges filed within the same docket, a routine for such projects throughout the state. This allows parties to dispute certain concerns over the plan, and brings the process into a mediation period with the City. Meetings for those talks are currently being scheduled.

Officials say they hope to have all mediation and questions on these plans resolved by the end of the year. The public is invited to listen to the second reading of the zoning plan and offer comments on Sept. 16 at the next governing body meeting.

The Fair Share Housing Center, an affordable housing advocacy group, has filed challenges against the development plans of 16 communities around New Jersey, including Summit. The organization alleges that the actions do not align with the state's affordable housing law, and is looking to have the immunity to builder remedy lawsuits revoked. Read more from Patch