Morristown Zoning Code Update: A Comprehensive Revision of Land Development Ordinance

In July 2022, the Planning Board of Morristown, New Jersey, adopted a new Master Plan Reexamination. The reexamination reviewed town planning objectives in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, new state legislation, including the legalization of recreational cannabis and new electric vehicle parking requirements, the 2020 Census, and over 100 applications under the Land Development Ordinance (LDO). As a result, the 2022 Reexamination provided various recommendations for zoning amendments, incorporated into a comprehensive Amended LDO.

The new Land Development Ordinance, which was adopted on July 10, 2018, and took effect on August 1, 2018, is the first comprehensive update to the Morristown Land Development Ordinance since its adoption in 1979. The Zoning Code governs the use and design of buildings in Morristown and sets standards for improvements such as parking, landscaping, fencing, signage, and environmental standards.

The updated ordinance aims to better capture the existing character and development patterns of the town while guiding future development in Morristown. The regulations simplify the treatment of uses, buildings, and site improvements in the town and eliminate, consolidate, or amend out-of-date requirements.

These updated standards include practical and context-sensitive guidelines for permitted uses in the town's neighborhoods and the design of buildings. The concepts are rooted in the 2014 Morristown Moving Forward Master Plan, which focused on circulation and community form, and proposed a form-based land use code that respects the town's existing character and historic assets.

The new code marks a significant shift in the future of zoning in Morristown. The ordinance not only regulates use, intensity, and bulk but also provides guidelines to ensure that new developments strengthen long-established neighborhood character. Additionally, the code governs development in Morristown by district and street frontage, ensuring that new uses and buildings are consistent with established neighborhoods.

The town planner, Phil Abramson, encourages residents to share their questions or comments regarding the Zoning Code update by emailing morristown@topology.is. The town is committed to gathering community feedback as it works to implement these comprehensive zoning updates.

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