Millburn open space committee maps projects and trail links
Township leaders are sorting future Open Space Trust Fund requests, from flood-related acquisitions to senior facilities, trail connections, and a possible pocket park on Millburn Avenue.
Two hosts walk through the week’s edition in conversation — open space trust fund advisory committee, attorney update, and what’s coming next. Generated by Aware, from this week’s verified summaries.
The committee is building a master address spreadsheet so residents and officials can track viable open space properties before the next public session.
The next land fight may start with a spreadsheet. A Township Committee member said the Open Space Trust Fund Advisory Committee spent its recent meeting shifting toward a clearer process for funding requests and bigger public-facing projects. The goal, the member said, is to keep balance across open space preservation, historic preservation, active and passive recreation, and other investments instead of treating each idea as a one-off request.
Part of that work is practical. The committee discussed buyback property acquisition in the floodway and other steps that could support flood mitigation. The member said the group is building a master address spreadsheet to track viable open space properties and asked for more properties to be submitted for review. The committee is still waiting on environmental information for a Millburn Avenue site described in the meeting as a covered pavement area that could become a small pocket park.
The conversation widened from parcels to access. The member said the committee discussed senior facilities, including concerns about seniors getting to Bauer Center, and weighed options such as improving an existing center, creating a new one, or considering Gero Park. The group is likewise looking at trails within Millburn and Short Hills and possible biking and walking links with Essex County, West Orange, Verona, and Montclair. A public session on open space opportunities is planned, though no date has been set.
Attorney update: amended third-round affordable housing settlement agreement fairness hearing
Affordable housing returns to court on October 7. Jarrid Kantor told the Township Committee that the fairness hearing for Millburn’s amended third-round settlement agreement is scheduled for 9:00 a.m. before Judge Russo in courtroom 211 at the historic courthouse.
The amendment involves RPM moving to an alternate site. Jarrid Kantor said notices would go out during the week, and residents who took part in earlier fairness hearings would receive notice by mail. The hearing notice is already posted on the Township website, and another announcement is planned for September 15.
The next step is public participation in court. A fairness hearing is where the judge reviews whether the amended settlement meets affordable housing requirements and gives residents a chance to be heard. Millburn’s local process is largely finished for now; the court hearing is the key date ahead.
Millburn approves new stop sign
The Township Committee adopted Ordinance 2765-26 to install a stop control device on the eastbound approach at Great Hills Road and White Oak Ridge Road. The measure had support from Essex County Engineering, the Township engineer, and the Police Department, and it passed by unanimous roll call vote.
Adopted stop control at a specified intersection changes traffic behavior and safety for nearby drivers and pedestrians.
Committee adopts Spring Street redevelopment plan
The Township Committee gave final approval to Ordinance 2763-26 adopting the Spring Street/Essex Street redevelopment plan after a public hearing focused on procedure, design standards, parking, and affordable housing terms. Jarrid Kantor said the Planning Board received the packet and that an upload omission had been corrected, and the ordinance passed unanimously.
Final adoption of the Spring Street/Essex Street redevelopment plan shapes future development and affordable housing expectations.
Mayor highlights field project and events
Frank Saccomandi said the high school field project broke ground and is expected to be finished by the end of the calendar year, increasing playable hours from 20 per week to 90 per week. He also noted the Junior Police Academy graduation, a Planning Board hearing set for 6:30 p.m., Rocktoberfest on September 26, and Millburn High School’s No. 2 state ranking by US News & World Report.
litigation
Committee introduces town-wide equipment standards
The Township Committee introduced Ordinance 2768-26 to set standards for accessory structures, mechanical equipment, exhaust equipment, and service areas in multifamily, non-residential, and mixed-use development. The ordinance is meant to limit noise, odor, smoke, grease, and visual impacts, with a public hearing set for October 6, 2026 at the Millburn Education Center.
Introduced townwide standards target noise, odor, grease, and visual impacts from multifamily and mixed-use development.
- Millburn Township Committee. In final public comment, speakers urged financial support for volunteer organizations, requested clarification on redevelopment plan procedures and Planning Board recommendations, raised concerns about 9/11 commemoration timing, discussed why some pedestrian beacons work better than others, pressed for Wyoming Avenue enforcement, described NJ Transit service problems, and encouraged regional trail connections.
What we didn’t fit in this Sundays edition
Millburn had 30 more items this week. Here are sixfour — the rest are on Aware.
- GOVERNANCEShort Hills station area traffic changes and design update. Township staff presented the design for eastbound Short Hills train station improvements, including circulation changes, raised crosswalks, medians, fencing, aesthetics, funding, and next steps. Separately, officials reported related station-area traffic changes and new stop signs near the station as work and safety adjustments continue.
- GOVERNANCEFirst reading: amendments to off-duty employment ordinance for police officers and police-related activities. The Township Committee introduced Ordinance 2767-26 on first reading to revise and codify language and update the rate schedule and fees for police off-duty employment, including vehicle and administrative fees, with a public hearing set for September 15, 2026.
- GOVERNANCETownship Committee member updates: recreation, infrastructure, flood mitigation, and pedestrian safety. Committee members provided updates on recreation programming, the field project groundbreaking, upcoming road repairs and paving, flood mitigation committee work, and reminders about pedestrian safety with school starting.
- GOVERNANCESecond reading and final passage: authorization to execute residential property lease (Block 1602 Lot 3). The Township Committee held the public hearing and adopted Ordinance 2766-26 on final reading authorizing the Township to execute a residential property lease for property identified as Block 1602 Lot 3.
- GOVERNANCEDeputy Mayor updates: Historic Preservation Commission and Senior Citizen Advisory Committee. The Deputy Mayor reported on upcoming Historic Preservation Commission matters and a Senior Citizen Advisory Committee meeting, and described programming hosted on the senior bus.
- GOVERNANCEFirst reading: define and prohibit data centers in zoning districts. The Township Committee introduced Ordinance 2770-26 on first reading to define data centers and prohibit them in zoning districts, noting changes were made the prior afternoon; public hearing set for October 6, 2026.
- GOVERNANCEOfficials answer final public comments. During final public comment, residents raised issues including volunteer support, redevelopment-plan procedure, 9/11 commemoration timing, pedestrian beacons, Wyoming Avenue enforcement, NJ Transit service, and trail connectivity. Committee members and staff responded to those concerns before the meeting moved on.
- GOVERNANCECreative Arts committee appointments amended and explained. The Township Committee amended and adopted Resolution 26-207 to correct class designations for members of the Creative Arts Advisory Committee. During public comment responses, officials also addressed questions about that resolution along with several unrelated resident concerns.
- GOVERNANCEBoard approves 165 Old Short Hills Road synagogue settlement. The Board held a Whispering Woods settlement hearing on the Chai Center application for a synagogue at 165 Old Short Hills Road, taking testimony from the applicant, questions from the public, and deliberating over parking, fencing, retaining wall, lighting, stormwater, traffic, and county approvals. The Board then approved the settlement agreement and granted preliminary and final major site plan approval with three C(2) variances, subject to stated conditions including an architectural condition.
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