[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6064515,"mediaKeyId","3237001-d39205c4133f0fe76e2043bf0a0ab03b","parentId",3237001,"title","Planning Board Authorized Area-in-Need Study for Ketch Road as Township Finalizes Fourth-round Housing Number","audioSeconds",633,"startMs",2567000,"endMs",3200000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3237001-d39205c4133f0fe76e2043bf0a0ab03b&start=2567&end=3200","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3237001-d39205c4133f0fe76e2043bf0a0ab03b/thumbnail_2567000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6064515/New-Jersey/Planning-Board-Authorized-Area-in-Need-Study-for-Ketch-Road-as-Township-Finalizes-Fourth-round-Housing-Number","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6064515-627e7bcb303eccd337f0f03ad26613f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170229&Signature=GCnIR~xg18x-xcqNrGRFnkD9tH7vuRsSWfq7A05PRW8hjixbe67ykGN8U5AY1xGZ7nOXlrQuhC28Zk7HB6OxhzID4GvDJQtSKcHd0DF2liZV39jtCbv0g0~9hd1FTCZ6z1PGqSZW~sT7oplHubL17ET0dN~lCHe7rOAKBg2YmU5xYX35whwwWQOTBtzU~mRfN7YxWKW5Rk9DQv0qYkYAF-h9DKAxbUgICAG-WZJlB~1Djw4qccTqzEx4vfiDfXpOu5HE0ytp~HpZ~82mBAJxmmRtrosF7goZyqL-GOz9Ijey9UsYXsi~DeGGp7pP-fLJFnUqatbsMoASVai1ZqkPvg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Morris Township Videos","date","2025-04-08T19:42:22Z","article","The Planning Board of Morris Township on April 7 voted to accept a governing-body resolution directing the board to conduct an area-in-need-of-redevelopment (non-condemnation) study for a county-owned parcel on Ketch Road that is the site of a planned 50-unit, 100% affordable housing development tied to an earlier settlement.

Board members also discussed recently negotiated fourth‑round prospective need numbers for the township under the state’s fair-housing process: the Department of Community Affairs’ initial calculation of 571 units, the township’s proposed figure of 308 units, Fair Share Housing Center’s position of about 562 units, and the settlement number the township reached with parties of 375 units. Board members and staff said the township’s planners will now prepare the study and a housing-element/fair-share plan, with draft implementation ordinances prepared by the statutory June 30 deadline.

Why it matters: The area-in-need designation and the housing element that follows are procedural steps that can enable redevelopment tools and satisfy the township’s affordable-housing obligations under New Jersey law. The Ketch Road site is also connected to a prior settlement that required a 50-unit affordable project (sometimes referred to as the township’s “round 3.5” obligation).

Board action and next steps
Township counsel and staff described the steps: the planners retained by the governing body (Phillips Price was named in the governing-body resolution) will prepare an area-in-need study and, if the board finds one or more statutory criteria are met, the board will hold a full public hearing with statutory notice and then forward a recommendation to the governing body. If the governing body designates the area as an area in need of redevelopment (non-condemnation), the planners will prepare a redevelopment plan and draft implementation ordinances.

Timing and numbers discussed
Board members were told that the township negotiated a prospective need of 375 units for the fourth round through the state dispute-resolution program; the township’s counsel referenced participants in that negotiation including the governing body's mayor Liz Laney, municipal staff and an assigned special adjudicator. The board was told the fourth-round prospective need becomes relevant beginning July 1 and that the municipal housing element and fair-share plan must be adopted in draft and accompanied by draft implementation ordinances by the statutory deadline of June 30; final adoption of ordinances is expected in 2026 as part of the implementation schedule discussed on the record.

Board vote
A motion to accept the governing body’s authorization and have the planners proceed with the area-in-need study carried on a voice vote; the board chair noted the planners would present the study at a future meeting where the public would have opportunity to comment.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Morris Township Planning Board: April 7th 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board voted to accept the governing body's direction to commission an area-in-need-of-redevelopment (non‑condemnation) study for the Ketch Road affordable-housing site and discussed the township’s negotiated fourth‑round prospective need of 375 units.","taxTitle","Morris Township, Morris County, New Jersey","taxId",72799,"location","New Jersey","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6064520,"Planning Board Approves Morristown Motorlink Parking-lot Upgrade, Allows Impervious-coverage Variance",2559,81000,2640000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3237001-d39205c4133f0fe76e2043bf0a0ab03b&start=81&end=2640","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3237001-d39205c4133f0fe76e2043bf0a0ab03b/thumbnail_81000.jpg","/articles/6064520/New-Jersey/Planning-Board-Approves-Morristown-Motorlink-Parking-lot-Upgrade-Allows-Impervious-coverage-Variance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6064520-ffe9b9ae1969418543ca7d7092fd2bf7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771170229&Signature=m~UCz69nA2P7W7egPm7mtsEg8sRr3XBhQhkjWIQluMecDPDJnMKzgpACLOadqpp~3P6Mbwdcyp~9Yb1ls2DX9HfKfdnecojTEZ8LaAuFi3eB49xq5ar-LFq8oVjFbtNBxq3xZOtTdTZc0mVXsUvnAKeYfRI4e8n1j~hxw5ytEDpCvVWTPAZtRbJIOdkWZzmBQ28gm0PxCgU5-wpjXvxImLOn1FaV502zch-Fw9WVdp6E75jmrbuEY0K8zlAoNMUTDhxm6Y8y7j0RlAyNKxJooS9iwK00~WAUJRPDj3FU6yfHWba9emXAxZRMZ4NRiXPAazLnI6byQEzeQa~Q65ukyA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Planning Board of Morris Township on April 7 approved Morristown Motorlink’s plan to pave an existing gravel vehicle storage area, add a 6-foot sidewalk connecting to a previously approved stairway and install lighting and an underground stormwater infiltration facility at 169–171 Ridgetale Avenue.

The approval included a variance to raise the lot’s impervious coverage from the existing 79.4% to 82.9% (the ordinance permits 75%), and two design waivers: one from the ordinance requiring parking-area landscaping and one from the requirement to mark parking stalls and drive aisles. The board approved the application subject to several stipulations, including on-site vegetation (hardy shrubs or deep-rooted grasses), post-construction adjustment or shielding of lights if necessary, and a dimming schedule for security lighting to be set with the township engineer.

Why it matters: The project converts a gravel area used to store dealer vehicles into a paved, better-lit, and graded surface with underground stormwater controls. Board members and professional witnesses said the work will improve drainage, pedestrian access to an adjacent Subaru service center and site safety, but it increases the parcel’s impervious surface and reduces on-site vegetation.

Applicant testimony and board findings
John Hansen, a licensed professional engineer and planner who has worked on the Brower family properties for two decades, testified that the subject property is two lots (Lots 6 and 7, Block 10104) totaling about 265,080 square feet in the I-21 Industrial Zone and that car dealerships are a permitted use. Hansen said the area proposed for paving is currently a gravel storage lot used only for employee parking and vehicle storage and that the work would include a 6-inch vertical concrete curb, a steel guide rail, a 6-foot sidewalk to connect to the previously approved stairway and an underground infiltration basin tied into the existing storm system.

James Kaiser, the project’s licensed professional engineer, described the stormwater work as a minor stormwater development designed to maintain existing drainage patterns while directing runoff to a proposed underground infiltration basin. Kaiser said the basin is sized to discharge to the existing inlet and that the drainage design was submitted to the township engineer for review.

On landscaping and markings, Hansen and counsel said the applicant requested waivers because the area functions as vehicle storage rather than customer parking. Hansen agreed to work with board professionals to identify locations elsewhere on the property for hardy shrubs or native grasses to reduce erosion and add vegetation.

Board stipulations and vote
The board’s approval included three explicit stipulations recorded during the motion: (1) post-construction adjustment or shielding of lighting fixtures if the township engineer deems it necessary, (2) a dimming schedule for lights (board discussion suggested approximately 9 p.m. as a baseline, with final percentage and timing determined by the township engineer and applicant), and (3) installation of selected vegetation (ornamental shrubs or deep-rooted grasses) in locations approved by the board planner and engineer to address erosion and visual concerns.

The motion to approve (motion text read into the record) carried on a roll-call vote with the members listed in the minutes voting in favor (see actions).","The Planning Board of Morris Township granted amended site-plan approval to Morristown Motorlink on April 7, approving paving, a sidewalk connection and lighting while granting a variance to raise impervious coverage to 82.9% and two design waivers with conditions.","actionData","errors"]

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Planning Board Authorized Area-in-Need Study for Ketch Road as Township Finalizes Fourth-round Housing Number

Planning Board Approves Morristown Motorlink Parking-lot Upgrade, Allows Impervious-coverage Variance