NEWS RELEASE

Subject: New Mendham Township Master Plan Completed

Contact: Samuel Tolley, Chairman of drafting committee (973) 300-5408

Date: 4/4/02

On Monday night 4/1/02 , the Mendham Township Planning Board completed a new Master Plan for Mendham Township by adopting the final four elements of the plan. It recommends limiting future growth because of concerns that groundwater resources are reaching their limits to support development. It also recommended specific changes to existing zone district boundaries and a new R-10 (ten acre minimum lot size) zone district designed to reduce the potential for new subdivision development. These recommendations have been incorporated into the Township Zoning Ordinance.

The plan was drafted to address three issues of greatest concern to Mendham Township residents. Residents have reported increasing problems with groundwater wells and many were concerned that the recent development trend toward extremely large homes on minimum sized lots was negatively affecting their neighborhoods. Other residents were concerned about the increased development in recent years and its general affect on changing the historic character of the town.

Groundwater is a particularly sensitive issue in the Township because the entire population is dependent on groundwater wells. A study initiated by the Township Environmental Commission confirmed that development is adversely affecting groundwater supplies and that a finite number of homes (2,111) can be supported. The Township is rapidly approaching this limit. The recommendations for increasing minimum lot sizes in the Township are to a large extent based upon the findings of the Environmental Commission’s study.

To address public complaints about “oversized” homes, the plan recommended ordinance changes requiring that very large homes have proportionately large lots. These standards, called floor area ratio standards, have been adopted in many communities in recent years. The Township last year adopted FAR standards for most areas of the Township. Standards for the remaining areas, including the new R-10 zone district, Pitney Farms, Drakewick and Brookrace developments, will be presented to the Township Committee for adoption soon. Anyone interested can review the plan or purchase a copy at the

Municipal Building

Brookside

during regular hours.