Morristown to consider townhouse project behind Morris Street

A vacant lot between Morris Street and NJ Transit tracks would sprout 30 “stacked-flat” townhomes under a proposal that comes before the Morristown council on Feb. 9.

Plans call for three 2 1/2-story buildings, each with 10 condo-style units, on about 1.3 acres behind properties that front on the south side of Morris Street, between Ford and Ridgedale avenues. A right-of-way called Delaware Street, which exists only on maps, would be built to connect the site to Ford Avenue if the project is approved.

Redevelopment of lots on both sides of the tract is anticipated to follow.

The council designated the area as a redevelopment zone in March 2007, after the planning board described the parcel as “stagnant and unproductive” with “potential to more fully contribute to the vitality and general welfare” of the town.

At Thursday’s meeting the council will consider naming Leona Development LLC as redeveloper, a first step in the approval process.

Leona Development principals are Peter Cippolini, who owns a trash hauling and recycling company, and Joseph Lobozzo, whose holdings include buildings on South and Bank streets in Morristown. Peter owns the site, and Joseph is the construction manager. His projects include apartments on Dumont Place. Their attorney is Jay Delaney, a former Morristown mayor.

To provide affordable housing, the developers have proposed converting existing homes into deed-restricted affordable units. A town ordinance requires builders to set aside 12.5 percent of units for low- and moderate-income tenants.

One house on Morris Street would be demolished to make way for the project, under the present proposal, said Phil Abramson of Jonathan Rose Companies, the town planners.

The site sits between two lots that were part of larger housing proposals in the past.  One plan had called for more than 50 units above a parking structure; another proposal talked about 40 garden apartments, according to a council memo from Jonathan Rose Companies.

“Thursday is about qualifying a redeveloper. We’re getting a developer in the gate and setting the ground rules” for further discussions, said Phil.

The planners are advising the council to require the developers to hold at least two “public design workshops” to gather public suggestions. And the developers should hire a traffic consultant who also has “experience in pedestrian and bike planning in urban/transit districts to connect this site to the train station and other nearby transit systems,” according to the memo.

Because the site lacks traditional street frontage, creative design work will be essential, Phil said.

“You want to create a sense of place, with its own unique identity,” he said, pledging the same attention to detail that went into redevelopment plans for Speedwell Avenue.

At one time the Leona Development site was a scrap yard, Phil said. Contamination has been cleaned up, he said.

“We feel good about this [site] because of its walkability, it’s so close to the train station. Right now it’s an eyesore,” he said. “It’s really a win-win, as long as that neighborhood agrees with us.”