Twp. Committee Vetoes Proposed MXD

HANOVER, TWP., NJ-Vision Equities wants to develop Whippany Village, consisting of 74,000 sf of retail space and 70 multifamily residential units, but that plan is off, at least for now and in its current form. The township committee has voted unanimously against Vision’s application for a zoning variance required for the project to proceed.

The plan calls for the residences to sit atop the retail component, rising a total of 70 feet. According to published reports, that height was one of the sticking points for the committee, led by Mayor Ronald Francioli, as well as for local residents in attendance for the vote. Other concerns, according to reports, include traffic and noise issues, as well as signage.

Local officials and the Mountain Lakes, NJ-based Vision Equities did not respond to requests for comment by deadline. “After hearing the residents’ concerns, it would take the earth to shake for me to change my mind,” says committee member Judy Iradi, in a prepared statement.