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Planning commission approves partial closure of S. Bellwood Road ahead of commercial development; developer must maintain emergency access
Summary
The commission approved vacating about 700 feet of S. Bellwood Road to accommodate a proposed commercial development, subject to a developer agreement to connect the remaining road to Veterans Parkway with a compacted stone base that meets minimum fire code before removing the existing street; vote 6–0 with 1 abstention.
The Morristown Regional Planning Commission voted on May 12 to approve a partial closure of S. Bellwood Road to allow a proposed commercial development to relocate and improve the road and use the vacated right-of-way for regional detention.
Senior Planner Josh Cole told commissioners the section to be closed is roughly 700 feet long, sits just east of John Bell’s house and north of Veterans Parkway, and has common ownership on both sides. Because trains occasionally stop on S. Bellwood, Cole said the applicant agreed to ensure the remaining portion of S. Bellwood is connected to Veterans Parkway with a compacted stone base that meets minimum fire code prior to removing the existing street to preserve emergency access for homes between the closed section and the railroad tracks.
Commissioner Ventrus Norfolk moved to approve the partial road closure; Commissioner Alpha Alexander seconded. The commission approved the request; the recorded tally was 6 yes, 0 no and 1 abstain. The transcript does not specify which commissioner abstained. Staff asked that the commission forward the request to City Council for formal vacation and recording.
The approval advances the developer’s commercial site plan but requires coordination to maintain temporary and emergency access until the relocated road meets fire-code access standards.
