Planning Board Continues Work on 272 Parsippany Rd.

The Parsippany-Troy Hills Planning Board continued crafting a recommendation to the Town Council on approved parameters for developing 272 Parsippany Rd. 

At the board's June 6 meeting, the body voted to put specific parameters in place regarding building height and density, moves that derailed the plans of developer Cerbone-Prisco, which owns the Parsippany Road lot.

 Cerbone-Prisco had hoped to put a mixed use development on the 1.27-acre property, which would include a bank and a five-story, 50-unit luxury condominium building. The board decided to limit whatever project takes the space to three stories and 30 units.

The developer's attorney, Ann Grossi, spoke passionately on the subject of redevelopment and the importance of bringing Parsippany "into the 21st and 22nd century."

Grossi said that the developers went over the numbers and discovered what they had suspected—that the restrictions imposed make the project not economically feasible.

"There is no way to move forward with three stories over a garage," she said. "At the least they need four stories over a garage, and if the board can't approve that, then there would be no point in moving forward. There's not going to be any redevelopment or rehabilitation of the area."

She encouraged the board to reconsider its restrictions on the site.

"We have no viable housing in Parsippany for seniors who want to sell their houses or don't want to be in a single-family home anymore," she said. "This is a good project for Parsippany.  This would be the first project to offer that kind of living arrangement for the people of Parsippany." 

Grossi also wondered aloud whether political pressure—in the form of a report on a Democratic Party website that speaks against the Cerbone-Prisco proposal—had been injected into the atmosphere. 

"This project has been unfairly targeted by the Democratic Party in this town," said Grossi, who is also a member of the Morris County Board of Freeholders. "We have the head of the Democrat committee who has led the charge against this project. We have candidates for office. This is not a fair venue, this project should be treated as all projects are."

Democratic Committee Chairperson Julia Peterson and Town Council candidate Annelise Catanzaro were among the citizens present for the meeting.

"Ann Grossi's statement seemed as though she was attempting to find a scapegoat for the Planning Board not granting approval for her client's six story building," said Catanzaro.  "At the last two Planning Board meetings, I attended along with dozens of other residents who cited multiple concerns regarding the proposed development project including: height, density, traffic, inadequate parking, removal of trees, loss of privacy, insufficient buffer, and so on.  So I would argue strongly that the decision was not about politics, but instead about the proposal being wrong for that area of town."

Board Attorney Anne Marie Rizzuto took issue with the notion that politics has been part of the consideration process. 

"I sat through various hearings and I do not recall any political motivation from any member of the public who spoke or any board members. It's a bit unfair to introduce that topic to sway this board," she said. "What's viable for the property owner may not be viable for this property."

Rizzuto added that it wasn't realistic to expect that the board would change a two-week-old vote made after months of consideration. 

She also reported that regarding Town Council member Michael dePierro's call for rescinding the "area in need of rehabilitation" designation, she saw nothing in the law that addressed the matter.

Grossi spoke up again to assure the board that she was not implying that its members were politically motivated. 

Board Chairperson Casey Parikh said the body's job here was to come up with parameters that would be acceptable for 272 Parsippany Rd.

 DePierro reiterated his call to rescind the designation for fear that it would "destroy our township and our quality of life."

"It will not destroy our quality of life, Councilman," said Mayor James Barberio. "Rescinding is a mistake—you're saying our township planner isn't qualified to make decisions."

For the rest of the meeting, the board continued working on defining parameters for the property, from height to the types of businesses that would not be permitted. That work will continue at the Planning Board's next meeting, which takes place July 18.