Mayor-elect to tackle redevelopment project

The day after winning Morristown's mayoral election, Democrat Timothy Dougherty was asked about one of Morristown's major redevelopment projects -- a project that had been on hold for several weeks.

Representatives of Trammell Crow Residential, the redeveloper of the Speedwell Avenue project, reached out to Dougherty yesterday, and may meet as early as next week to discuss how to move forward with the project, the mayor-elect said.

The residential and retail mix will consist of between 600 and 800 residential units and approximately 80,000 square feet of retail space, Trammell Crow managing director Richard Murphy said from his Morristown office last night.

Dougherty said the discussion by phone yesterday was very positive.

"I'm looking forward to sitting down with them," Dougherty said.

"We're going to roll up our sleeves," he added. "We've got a lot of work to do."

Murphy said representatives of Trammell Crow -- the designated redeveloper of the area that comprises about 20 properties -- appeared before the council about eight weeks ago. During the meeting, he said, the current administration raised concerns over the project's timing, improvements and phasing.

The site currently includes the town's department of public works, which lame duck mayor Donald Cresitello has said must find a new home to make way for the massive project.

During the past two years, Trammell Crow has negotiated and signed a redeveloper agreement with the town for the area, Murphy said.

But for now, the project remains on hiatus.

"It was suggested at the last meeting that a new administration would be coming into Morristown shortly, and it was suggested it may be appropriate to put the project on hold so we could work with the new administration and get any feedback they may have," Murphy said.

"It is my sense that there still remains support for the project in the town," Murphy said.

"Now we just have to figure out the right fit so that everybody benefits."

Dougherty has said he is a proponent of open space and smart development. He also has said he intends to have a townwide traffic study conducted and wants a complete makeover of the town's zoning master plan.

Dougherty, 51, beat out Republican James "Jimmy" Gervasio, 63, by a nearly 2-to-1 vote margin in Tuesday's general election.

Tanya Drobness may be reached at (973) 539-7910 or tdrobness@starledger.com.