MORRIS TOWNSHIP, N.J. — The Morris Township Committee voted unanimously June 11 to accept the planning board's finding that parcels on Catch Road and West Hanover Avenue qualify as a non‑condemnation redevelopment area under the Local Redevelopment and Housing Law.

Township Administrator Tim Quinn told the committee the designation stems from a planning board investigation and a consultant's report that concluded the site is appropriate for redevelopment. "The Local Redevelopment and Housing Law of the state of New Jersey authorizes the municipality to determine whether certain property within the municipality constitutes an area in need of redevelopment," Quinn said, adding the site is being considered for a "100% affordable housing site located on Catch Road."

The resolution before the committee, labeled Resolution 131‑25, accepts the planning board's recommendation and cites the board's June 2, 2025 public hearing and the investigative report prepared by planning consultant Joel Price. The committee also noted that a prior committee resolution (100‑25) had authorized the planning board to conduct the preliminary investigation.

According to the report read into the record, the study area includes property identified on the township tax map as Block 1901, a portion of Lot 1540 (West Hanover Ave) and a portion of Lot 1.01 (Catch Road). The planning board's written recommendation states the study area is owned by Morris County and, "due to its location, remoteness, and lack of means of access to the public roadway system," is unlikely to be developed through private capital alone; on that basis the planning board recommended designation as a non‑condemnation redevelopment area under sections 5 and 6 of the redevelopment law.

Madam Clerk read the title of the resolution into the record before the committee took a roll call vote. No members of the public were present in the meeting room or on Zoom, and the committee forewent opening a public comment period. A motion to approve the resolution was made and seconded on the floor; the roll call vote recorded five affirmative votes and no dissent, and the motion carried.

The designation initiates the redevelopment process under New Jersey's Local Redevelopment and Housing Law (N.J.S.A. 40A:12A‑1 et seq.). The committee did not take further action on a development plan, engineering, site access improvements, funding or timelines at the June 11 special meeting; those items were not specified in the materials read into the record. The planning board's investigative report and the full resolution are available on the township website under the agenda center, the clerk said.

The committee adjourned after the vote.