Board of Adjustment approves final subdivision for 13-home Springbrook development

The Morris Township Board of Adjustment approved final major subdivision for a portion of land formerly part of the Springbrook Country Club on May 19, 2025, allowing Slock Acquisitions LLC to create a roughly 4.74-acre parcel for 13 single-family homes.

The approval, granted after testimony from the applicant’s counsel and a civil engineer and a public-question period, memorializes a preliminary approval previously granted by the board and carries forward conditions from that earlier decision, including a developer’s agreement that will spell out an affordable-housing contribution.

Chair Sonia Santiago opened the hearing and noted the application before the board was BA-08-25, for final major subdivision of Block 5801, Lot 1. Mr. Warner confirmed the board had jurisdiction, noting notices were served by certified mail on May 8 and published April 30. Frank Fotolo, counsel for the applicant, told the board the final subdivision plans are “wholly consistent” with the previously approved preliminary plans and introduced Rusty Schomer, the civil engineer who affirmed under oath that the final plans were drawn “exactly the same as the preliminary approved plans.”

Board members asked procedural and substantive questions, including whether the applicant still owned a particular parcel previously at issue and about underground piping and sitework; applicant’s counsel said no construction had started and that any required removal or work would follow approval. A resident asked about removal of Japanese knotweed; counsel and the applicant’s representative said landscaping and site-plan obligations would govern removal where the vegetation is on property the applicant owns, but areas outside the applicant’s ownership would not be the applicant’s obligation.

Board members also asked about a voluntary contribution to the township’s Affordable Housing Trust Fund. Counsel for the applicant said the contribution is a condition of the approval and that a draft developer’s agreement — now in circulation with the business administrator — will memorialize obligations between the applicant and the township; the parties said the agreement will be completed following this approval.

After closing public comment, the board voted on a motion to grant final subdivision approval. The motion passed on a 6–1 roll call, with board member Williams recorded as the lone no vote. The board’s attorney and applicant counsel said remaining conditions from the prior approval must be satisfied as required by the original resolution.

The approval does not authorize construction; the applicant still requires any applicable third-party permits and must satisfy conditions in the prior resolution and the forthcoming developer’s agreement before on-site work begins.