Downtown Apartment Complex Approved By Morristown Zoning Board

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Following an initial rejection, building owner Joseph Milelli was able to obtain municipal approvals to add apartments above storefronts in downtown Morristown.

The housing project, which has gone through seven virtual zoning board hearings in the last year, was approved during a special meeting on Wednesday, Aug. 31.

Milelli's plans for 21 units above storefronts on South and DeHart streets in downtown Morristown were approved with conditions by a 5-1 vote in a special session on Wednesday.

According to zoning board documents, the building will be five stories tall, with the basement level occupied by a nightclub called the Laundromat.

Multiple variances were required for the project, including ones for off-site parking, building height, and exceeding a four-story limit. The housing complex's initial plans called for 30 apartments, which were then reduced to 26, then 22, before settling on the agreed-upon 21.

Many town officials were concerned about parking, which was addressed in a traffic engineering review to determine how the proposed development would affect traffic.

"As there is no parking existing on site and none proposed, parking for this proposed residential project will need to be arranged with the Morristown Parking Authority (MPA), which has been confirmed to be in the DeHart Garage," officials said.

According to the MPA, 40 parking spaces will be allotted to the housing project.

"It remains our professional opinion that only 32 parking spaces are required per the Town Code for the proposed residential use," according to representatives of Bowman Consulting Group.

The approval conditions for the building remain unchanged from last year, with no commercial uses allowed on the rooftop terrace and the planting of five shade trees nearby.

Milelli has also stated that he intends to keep his commercial tenants, which include the 23 South gift boutique, J.C. Reiss Optician and the Laundromat.