Proposed Hotel in Parsippany's Backyard Could Get OK Monday

A vote by the Mountain Lakes council Monday night could set the path for a major addition to development on Rt. 46, creating a huge issue for residents in Parsippany.

The town’s governing body has expressed its intent to approve a standing ordinance that would allow for zoning to include a five-story hotel at 90 Route 46 in Mountain Lakes. In doing so, the hotel would be in the backyard of the Rainbow Lakes section of Parsippany.

With the intention of approving the measure at its first meeting of March, the council put off the vote after Parsippany Mayor James Barberio, councilman Robert Peluso and Morris County Freeholder John Cesaro – a resident of Rainbow Lakes – asked their neighbors for one more public hearing.

Mountain Lakes has held five public hearings on the matter since October, but agreed to hold off two more weeks.

The ordinance would amend an original version in that town’s codebook, and add hotels as a conditional use in the town’s business zone B. The introductory vote earlier this month was approved 5-0, with two council members absent.

The meeting’s public session begins at 8 p.m. at Mountain Lakes High School, 96 Powervill Road.