History really does repeat itself. Just ask the Morristown zoning board.
On Saturday, June 12, 2021, board members will hit the road. Turtle Road. Again.
At 9 am, they will visit the same parking lot scoped out by the board on a September weekend in 2015.
That look-see preceded approvals for the Silverman Group to erect 28 apartments. This month’s trip may determine if the developer gets the green light for 28 more.
At Wednesday’s virtual hearing, board Attorney David Brady explained that the Turtle tour will be an official meeting — minus sworn testimony or recordings.
And like last time, there will be balloons.
Board Vice Chairman Scott Wild requested them. He and James Bednarz are the only members remaining from 2015, when balloons helped the board visualize the proposed height of the apartments.
Citing the pandemic, Chairman Steve Pylypchuk said members won’t explore inside the Turtle Road Commons apartments, dubbed “Turtle One.”
Rents there range from around $2,300 to $3,500; its yoga-, exercise- and game rooms would be shared with “Turtle Two” tenants, according to project Planner Michael Tobia, who attended the 2015 road trip.
Just as with Turtle One, Turtle Two requires a use variance to allow multifamily housing. The property is zoned for medical and professional offices, child care and nursing homes.
It’s not clear this time whether anyone will bring home-baked cookies, as the daughter of a Silverman employee did six years ago.
But now as then, the public is invited to tag along.
Mark your calendars!
The property on Turtle Road is zoned for medical and professional offices, child care and nursing homes. Many variances are required. It would need a use variance to allow multifamily housing. A variance to exceed a floor area ratio, and to reduce the office parking lot from 354 spaces to 281 spaces, to accommodate the new apartments. Variances also are required to exceed a floor area ratio, and to reduce the office parking lot from 354 spaces to 281 spaces, to accommodate the new apartments. Why do we even bother with Zoning in Morristown, when as we have seen, any development is okay? .Sadly, following zoning plans in Morristown seems like a fantasy under this administration