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Planning board finds Morris County Park Commission septic upgrades at Lewis Morris Park not inconsistent with master plan
Summary
The Morris County Planning Board reviewed septic-system replacements at Lewis Morris Park and related maintenance sites and voted to find the projects not inconsistent with the township master plan; presenters said the work is funded in part through an American Recovery Program grant and includes a small accessory shed for treatment equipment.
Morris Township, Nov. 17, 2025 — The Morris County Planning Board on Monday reviewed a capital project from the Morris County Park Commission to replace failing septic systems at Lewis Morris Park and two maintenance sites and voted that the projects are "not inconsistent" with the township master plan.
Dave Palmer, introduced himself in the hearing as the commission’s executive director and said the work focuses on the Cultural Center, the Maintenance Building and the Sunrise Lake boathouse in Mendham Township, and involves demolition of an old, hillside septic system and installation of new tanks, an amphidrome reactor and disposal fields. "We identified septics that we were pumping more frequently," Palmer said, noting the project used American Recovery Program funding for wastewater-treatment enhancements.
Engineer Dean Fong described system components: three tanks for solids separation, a biological reactor for treatment, electrical controls and a manufacturer-required 10-by-12 shed to house blowers, pumps and treatment chemicals. "It's treated at the tanks that are located," Fong said, explaining the pre-treatment process before effluent is pumped to the disposal field.
Board members questioned site details including the shed’s appearance and construction (brown shingles, beige siding on a 12-inch slab), above-ground appurtenances such as a control junction box and vents, removal of one parking space and placement of bollards for protection. Presenters said pumps would run only a few hours at a time and that trees and landscaping would help dampen noise. The applicants said they secured the required treatment-works approval and that building and subcode permits would follow.
During deliberations several members said upgrading a deteriorated septic system is consistent with the master plan’s environmental and infrastructure objectives. A motion finding the project not inconsistent with the master plan was made, seconded and approved by roll call.
Next steps: the determination will be memorialized in the meeting minutes and the applicants will pursue the necessary building permits and subcode sign-offs.
