It’s been a week — a busy week! — since Morristown’s council heard the latest presentation about M Station.
If you weren’t able to attend the meeting — the third so far concerning M Station–here is video. Now is the time to make your voice heard about a project the town planner anticipates will be the “most consequential…complex” one of his Morristown career.
(NOTE: The town only broadcasts/webcasts regular council meetings. This was a redevelopment session, so town cameras were not rolling. MorristownGreen.com is providing this video as a public service; if you consider this valuable for making informed decisions about your community, please make a contribution to Morristown Green.)
The proposed redevelopment would replace an 11-shop strip mall at Spring and Morris streets with two buildings housing nearly 400,000 square feet of office/retail, adding a traffic “roundabout,” five-story parking garage, and a wide, tree-lined promenade and plaza.
Proponents eager to attract Big Four accounting firm Deloitte predicted an influx of good jobs (“walking wallets” to patronize downtown businesses and buy homes) and tax revenue, and speedier trips through a re-tooled intersection.
Opponents said M Station will exacerbate traffic woes, while eliminating affordable eateries for low-income residents and one of the town’s last free parking lots.
Business owners who would be displaced spoke for and against the project. Residents expressed a range of opinions.
The council also heard comments from former members of the council and zoning board, and from the superintendent of the Morristown National Historical Park, who urged more “holistic” planning that considers this proposal within the context of other pending developments.
Separately, at the same meeting, town Redevelopment Attorney John Inglesino teed off on developer Paul Marshall and his legal team, who a week earlier had accused the town of reneging on a deal for Phase III of the Speedwell Avenue redevlopment.
We have included video of Inglesino’s remarks, too.
VIDEOS FROM THE AUG. 13, 2019, COUNCIL MEETING:
Town Planner Phil Abramson makes the case for M Station:
Roundabout? M Station traffic consultant Matt Seckler explains:
M Station: Public comments 1 of 3:
M Station: Public comments 2 of 3:
M Station: Public comments 3 of 3:
Council responds to M Station comments, asks questions:
In other business… the town blasts would-be Speedwell Avenue redeveloper:
Thsi is just me, but I find the silly term “walking wallets” to be annoying.