Morristown boards okay new look for Morris Street apartments, and solar panels for hospital

Revised colors of The Revolution at 171-175 Morris St., from virtual Morristown planning board meeting, May 11, 2022. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin
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If you’re like most people, you can’t wait for the next special meetings of your planning and zoning boards.

This week featured two in Morristown.

By unanimous votes, the planning board approved cosmetic changes to a half-finished apartment building on Morris Street, and the zoning board granted height variances to allow solar panels atop two parking garages at Morristown Medical Center.

“They stepped up. They did the right thing,” planning board Chairman Joe Stanley said of Hampshire Realty after Wednesday’s virtual session.

Architects for Hampshire came back with brick and mortar colors that more closely match hues previously approved for The Revolution, an 85-unit complex under construction at 171-175 Morris St.

Special virtual meeting of the Morristown planning board, May 11, 2022. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin

Earlier this month, Stanley and Mayor Tim Dougherty vehemently objected to substitute colors, which the developer blamed on supply chain problems. Board objections threatened to delay completion of the apartments, which include 14 units designated for tenants with special needs.

“What we’re trying to do is make sure, particularly with any of the larger-type buildings in town, we want them to blend in with the character of Morristown,” Stanley explained.

“What they proposed last month did not do that—it looked really horrible,” almost “monochromatic.”

The Revolution, original and revised color schemes, Morristown virtual planing board meeting, May 11, 2022. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin

That’s not trivial, he said.

“We live in Morristown. We all love Morristown. We’re doing this as volunteers because we care about Morristown. We want to make sure that what gets constructed is something we all can be proud of,” Stanley said.

Updated color of 171-175 Morris St. apartments, May 11, 2022. Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin

The revised plans include older-style, textured bricks that hint at the town’s history, the chairman said.

Town Planner Phil Abramson also presented an overview of tweaks intended to simplify the municipality’s zoning master plan.

“I would term them little refinements that should make life a little easier,” Stanley said of the 37-page master plan “re-examination.”

LET THE SUN SHINE IN

On Thursday, the zoning board enthusiastically granted variances for the medical center solar panels.

“The hospital has a huge carbon footprint. This doesn’t solve it, but it moves in the right direction,” zoning board Chairman Steve Pylypchuk said before a 5-0 vote that required all five for “D” variances to exceed height limits for the decks.

“Overall, it’s an improvement to the site,” Pylypchuk said. The board tacked on a few minor conditions.

ABOVEgrid of Millstone will oversee construction and operation of the panels, which are anticipated to generate 1.6 megawatts of electricity–nearly one-third of the hospital’s total usage on typical days, said Philip Smith, who leads project management for Morristown Medical Center.

Installation must be completed within this calendar year for ABOVEgrid to qualify for an essential government subsidy, according to hospital officials.

Plans include eight electric vehicle charging spaces–four each on the ground levels of the hospital’s JCP&L and Women’s Association decks.

Morristown zoning board virtual hearing for Morristown Medical Center solar panels, May 12, 2022.Screenshot by Kevin Coughlin

At Thursday’s virtual meeting, project representatives agreed to make the charging spaces free of charge, after zoning board member James Bednarz pointedly asked if plans to impose nominal fees were “another business for the hospital.”

A few years ago, the town challenged the hospital’s nonprofit status and won a huge settlement.

Jersey Central Power & Light will receive any excess energy produced by the panels. But Smith emphasized that the hospital won’t make money from this; rather, the utility will grant credits to offset hospital energy bills during peak usage periods.

Over the next two decades, the panels are anticipated to trim the hospital’s electrical costs and carbon emissions, reductions equivalent annually to removing more than 300 cars from the road.

Solar panels will top the Women’s Association parking garage at Morristown Medical Center. Photo courtesy of MMC.

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