Planning board urges Department of Education to weigh environmental and traffic concerns after Morris School District turf field presentation

The Morris Township Planning Board held a capital project review on Jan. 12 for the Morris School District’s proposal to install a 179,641‑square‑foot synthetic‑turf multiuse field at the Freeland Heisen property (Block 901 Lot 3). The presentation described a turf system with a 12‑inch stone base, underdrains and an outfall structure; the project team said drainage modeling shows reduced post‑development discharge relative to the existing grass condition for the 2‑, 10‑ and 100‑year storms (post‑construction discharges estimated at 50%, 75% and 80% respectively of existing conditions under the consultant’s modelling assumptions).

Engineer Anthony Gianficaro (licensed engineer/architect) described the construction sequence (synthetic polyethylene turf over stone; trench drains on the north side; portable dugouts and bleachers; two scoreboards) and said FieldTurf or similar products are specified. He acknowledged that some particulates — including crumb rubber from the turf infill — can reach trench drains in storm events but said the design anticipates settling and requires routine maintenance (trench/outfall cleaning at least four times per year) as described in the drainage study and maintenance manual submitted to the board. The applicant’s representatives said the school district determined the turf option after considering alternatives and that the Department of Education retains final approval authority for the capital project under the municipal land use law.

Residents and the township’s Environmental Commission delivered sustained public comment raising health and environmental concerns, including potential PFAS and microplastic migration into a nearby tributary and the Whippany River, questions about the trench‑drain capture efficiency for small particles (citizens cited 5 mm size), potential water‑table impacts, tree removal and wildlife disruption, and neighborhood impacts from parking and traffic on Elder Drive. Multiple residents asked the board to incorporate the Environmental Commission’s report and addendum into the record and to express concern to the New Jersey Department of Education.

After hearing testimony and public comment, the board voted to adopt a resolution memorializing its recommendations: incorporate the Environmental Commission report and addendum by reference; urge the Department of Education to carefully weigh recent studies and pending legislation when reviewing the project (board members referenced new state guidance and a pending bill raised by commenters); ask the district to comply with the township tree ordinance at a minimum and to strengthen screening where residences abut the field; and coordinate with the township on parking and traffic mitigation and event management. The motion and roll‑call vote were recorded as unanimous among members present.

The board emphasized that, as a capital project review under MLUL 31a, its action is advisory: the Department of Education will make the final decision. The board’s resolution and the Environmental Commission materials will be forwarded to the Department of Education and included in the project record.