Morristown Master Plan to be Discussed at Saturday Planning Board Meeting

Morristown is gearing up for the public hearings on its recently released master plan with a 9 a.m. discussion Saturday by a Planning Board subcommittee at Town Hall which the public is encouraged to attend.

Those interested in providing feedback will have a chance at Planning Board hearings on Jan. 23 and Feb. 27, 2014

According to Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty, Phil Abramson from the Jonathan Rose Co. and everyone involved did “a fantastic job of getting it together and putting it out.”

Dougherty also said the public played a major role and provided input online and at public hearings.

“We wanted to make sure we go through the open process,” Dougherty said. “We had store front meetings to get feedback and drive civic engagement. In my opinion no other administration has done as much to bring it out to the public That is what we said we were going to do when I took office and we did it.”

According to Abramson, the plan is meant to guide town planners as they adopt legally binding redevelopment plans for specific neighborhoods and districts and was underwritten by a $100,000 grant from the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority with additional funding from the Geraldine R. Dodge Association and the town itself.

The master plan is an advisory document that must be updated every 10 years by state law.

“It is a lot of work,” Dougherty said. “But we are excited.”

The plan states:

Morristown is unquestionably a desirable place to live, work, and play. But as it is located at the crossroads of the region, so it is also at the crossroads of change. The demands on Morristown as a regional center are increasing. In recent years, the Town has been challenged as it works to balance development and preservation goals, as well as the impact of redevelopment and growth, with roadway circulation and walkability.

The purpose of this document, created with input from hundreds of members of the community, is to provide solutions to some of the complex concerns that development and growth create in a modern era, while preserving and strengthening the quality of life and historic character that define Morristown. The focus of this plan will be to ensure that policies and solutions are socially equitable, economically sound, and environmentally responsible.

It’s a continuing process,” Dougherty said. “Getting it implemented and getting it to the public takes time. It doesn’t happen overnight. It is months and months and months, but its moving. And that is what this is about, moving Morristown forward."