Senator Defends Greystone Open Space Plan

A pair of state senators drew fire from local residents and officials with their bill, introduced last week, to convert the remaining Greystone property into open space land, but the lawmakers insist their plan is being unduly criticized. 

Since the bill's proposal the all-volunteer group Preserve Greystone said the senators’ statement “makes no mention of the massive historic structures on the site, including the 1876 Kirkbride Building,” which the group is actively looking to preserve and the Parsippany council passed a resolution unanimously rebuking the senators’ bill urging the senators to preserve the Kirkbride Building.

Senator Pennacchio fired back and told Patch on Thursday that the bill “doesn’t preclude the saving of Kirkbride at all.”

He emphasized that in the the bill, Morris County is limited to using the property for the following purposes: recreation, conservation, historic preservation, farmland preservation and associated public services. 

Pennacchio said he has not seen a proposal that includes developing the land strictly for historical preservation, which would save Kirkbride, and he is worried about developers who want to use the land for residential and commercial purposes.

“I’m concerned that under the guise of historical preservation, that we have developers coming in and wanting to develop that (land) and I’m very much against that,” said Pennacchio.

Pennacchio said that the 165-acre surplus of land should belong to the county “for the enjoyment of the surrounding communities.” 

Greystone has been a controversial topic with its $50 million demolition price tag that was determined after Gov. Chris Christie announced plans in late 2011 to remediate and convert Greystone Park in Parsippany.

Parsippany Councilman Jonathan Nelson said that the senators bill needs to be more specific to ensure the preservation of Kirkbride.

"The state is ultimately responsible for the remediation of hazardous materials on the Greystone property," said Nelson. "If Senator Pennachio were to include a provision that Morris County must take the historic Kirkbride building along with the rest of the property after remediation, I will wholeheartedly support his bill."

The Morris County Freeholders are expected to discuss this issue on Monday. 

Neighboring Morris Plains Mayor Frank Druetzler supports the senators' bill, telling the Daily Record the county has been an "excellent steward for the land."