A significant portion of the Morris Town Council meeting revolved around the approval of the major subdivision application submitted by Marketplace Urban Renewal LLC. This application involved dividing the existing Mars Marketplace site into two lots. The first lot, designated for Burlington, will cover 1.52 acres, while the remaining 15.36 acres will be retained as a commercial lot. The application was classified as major due to local ordinance stipulations, which require any subsequent subdivision within three years of a minor subdivision to be classified as major, to prevent “creeping minor subdivisions.”

The council examined the distinction between minor and major subdivisions, emphasizing that major classifications undergo more rigorous scrutiny. Members discussed the importance of this classification system in maintaining transparency and preventing unchecked development. Despite the need for reclassification, the applicant reassured that a cross-easement agreement from a prior subdivision would remain intact.

Attention then turned to affordable housing, with discussions highlighting the need for proactive planning in anticipation of the Department of Community Affairs’ (DCA) forthcoming housing numbers. A member of the council reported on an informative affordable housing presentation. The council was reminded of the timeline for adopting a resolution regarding housing numbers and the necessity of preparing a housing element and fair share plan before the January 30 deadline.

Amidst these development discussions, the council also addressed scheduling challenges due to upcoming holidays. Concerns were raised about the impact of a Jewish holiday on meeting attendance and workload. Some members suggested canceling meetings scheduled on such holidays, while others debated retaining them as placeholders, with the option to cancel if necessary. The council also noted a potential scheduling gap between the December and January meetings, considering whether it was standard practice to hold only one meeting in December due to holiday commitments.

As the meeting drew to a close, the council reviewed its calendar, considering the potential need for additional meetings in September or November to manage the workload related to ongoing projects, including affordable housing and master plan reviews. The council resolved to maintain the October meeting date for now.