By Michael Lovito
No, you’re not having deja vu: The Morristown planning board on Thursday heard testimony on yet another massive mixed-use project to be built near the train station.
The proposed structure – named The Metro — would be at the current Staples site on 22 Lafayette Ave., and consist of 126 rental apartments, 100 extended stay units, and subsidized retail units.
Designed by MHS Architects and owned by Morristown Associates, The Metro was described by architect Bruce Stieve as being of a piece with the firm’s other train station project, for which the board heard testimony last week.
“We introduced the last project as a gateway project, and this project kind of completes the gateway,” Stieve said. “It’s been designed to respect Morristown’s historic character.”
The applicant is seeking waivers and variances regarding parking spot dimensions, signage, canopy size, and the building’s height.
, Dec. 12, 2024. Photo by Michael Lovito
The Metro’s extended stay units take advantage of a new Morristown ordinance that was adopted in May.
Unlike a hotel, an extended stay facility provides guests with cooking facilities, a larger living area, and allows them to stay for up to 182 days. According to Stieve, 50 percent of The Metro’s extended stay units will be furnished.
“The type of user that would be using these might be corporations who are dealing with relocation of employees or training of employees. It might be for families doing home renovations,” Stieve said. “It’s for anybody that needs a place for longer than what a hotel might be.”
Dec. 12, 2024. Photo by Michael Lovito
The extended stay facility is expected to include a “rooftop amenity deck” that could include fire pits and a dog run.
While no retail tenants have been selected, project attorney Frank Vitolo said they will be “available first” to Morristown residents. Stieve expressed a preference that the largest retail space (totaling 9,000 square feet) be occupied by a restaurant.
The board also heard from civil engineer Afton Savitz, who laid out the current and proposed conditions of the project’s “pork chop”-shaped and steeply inclined lot, and traffic engineer John Corak, who described how drivers would get in and out of the complex.
Corak testified The Metro would not have a “significant adverse impact on traffic generation” and that it would actively benefit pedestrians and train station customers.
“We’re more than doubling sidewalk in an area that does see fairly substantial pedestrian traffic given the proximity to the train station,” Corak said.
“It’s a project that I would like to see in communities that aren’t as forward thinking as Morristown in terms of transportation and transit connectivity and right-sizing these types of developments.”
Corak agreed to return to the board’s next meeting on Jan. 9, 2025, to answer questions.
A group of Jardine Road residents had concerns about the project’s effect on traffic. Corak intends to present a new traffic study that takes into account Bijou’s proposed project on One Lackawanna Place.
Dec. 12, 2024. Photo by Michael Lovito
DRONE-ING ON
At the end of the meeting, Mayor Tim Dougherty provided an update on the nighttime drone sightings that have become a staple of New Jersey’s skies for almost a month.
Dougherty said Gov. Phil Murphy’s office is working to connect New Jersey mayors with the FBI (the lead agency investigating the sightings) and that the governor also has suggested they should be shot down.
“They don’t know where they’re coming from, whose they are, but they are here,” Dougherty said. “They’ve had over 3,000 sightings in Hunterdon, Sussex, Staten Island, and other places.”
The mayor added that the sightings have prompted a deluge of inquiries and suggestions into his office, some more serious than others.
“It’s like conspiracy people unite,” Dougherty said, before joking about the law firm representing The Metro’s owner. “Didn’t you hear? They’re dropping Sills Cummis business cards.”
Tina is correct….this project may be a lot of things, you may think its ok, too large, or perfect. One thing it isnt, however, is respecting or reflecting Morristown’s historic character. Thats just a toss away phrase to somehow make it seem more palatable “historically”. Its simply what it appears to be – a large apartment complex, reasonably designed to fit its location.
Hey Tina – is it also gone in say London? Huge amounts of modern buildings next to historic ones that MAKE SENSE to keep.
“It’s been designed to respect Morristown’s historic character.”. That statement is ridiculous. Any historic character in Morristown downtown has been gone for years.
Matt, Okay, you win, but please explain: If you don’t rely on them, then how do you know about their shoppers?
@ Linda – there are no stores we rely on in that plaza. Plus a bunch of the businesses that were in Midtown were able to move to other locations in town.
wider sidewalks, hurrah! lets get some bike lanes in there too, or a bike path that somehow gets around the deathtrap that is this area currently.
Say goodbye to the stores we rely on. First it was the Midtown Shopping Plaza. Now this.
@Karen – the owner was going to build condos there years ago but wanted it to be 8 stories. It was a $100M project or something of the sort. But the town sided with the few houses next to it at it being too big, and rejected the proposal. Probably some politics as well. Now we have an empty yard for over a decade because of it.
@ Karen – it is a part of this project
Now they want to tear up the Staples property and build rentals. Why not first think about building at the empty, rundown old lumberyard property?
Not bad. But we need a big CONDO project, not just rentals. Every new development is just apartments. While there’s a huge demand for rentals, there’s also a lot of people who want to live in town but buy their own unit.
And yes this project should definitely include wider sidewalks, I would say 3-4x the current size, not just 2x.
Out with the old…in with the oversized new. Too many apartments. Not enough parking. Lafayette is a nightmare race track now. Will there be provisions or assistance for the existing stores and restaurants to return into the new building? Having the market might be a nice amenity to the tenants. These projects are wiping out the affordable shopping and eating options in Town, and options that actually have parking…just like the BK strip mall. It would be nice to see some for sale units…even 1 and 2 bedroom flats in these buildings. Build residents, not just renters. And I dont understand why this is being considered but the self storage adjacent was shot down quickly