Mendham Borough mayor urges countywide housing-growth study

James Kelly is urging a countywide housing-growth study rather than limiting a review to Mendham Borough and Mendham Township. In a letter published by Patch on Oct. 20, 2026, signed as Mendham Borough mayor, Kelly said the Borough supports reviewing potential effects of proposed housing development but argued the review should cover a wider region.

The letter follows a Mendham Township request. In an Oct. 15 report, Patch said Township officials had recently asked four agencies for a cumulative review of three proposed Mendham Borough projects. Patch reported officials’ estimate that the projects could add 372 residences, about 20 percent of the Borough’s homes. They are proposals, not completed construction.

Kelly’s letter estimates that about 11,000 housing units could be developed throughout Morris County because of New Jersey’s Fourth Round affordable-housing obligations. That is roughly 29.6 times the 372-unit estimate, but the figures cover different scopes: Kelly’s estimate is countywide, while the 372 figure concerns three proposed projects.

Kelly’s proposed study would span the region i

Kelly proposes a joint countywide study of transportation infrastructure, public services and regional planning. He names Randolph, Morris Township, Bernardsville, Bernards Township, Chester Township and Peapack-Gladstone for consideration. He also says development beyond Morris County, including Bedminster, might contribute to regional demands. Kelly cited earlier Morris County studies of local roads, traffic patterns and safety initiatives.

The Township’s reported request went to the Morris County Planning Board, the New Jersey Department of Transportation, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection and the New Jersey Highlands Council. It raised questions about traffic studies and affected roads and intersections, mutual-aid routes and emergency response times, groundwater, wetlands and other natural resources, and water and wastewater capacity.

The Township letter was signed by Mayor Sarah Neibart, Deputy Mayor Nick Monaghan, and committee members Amalia Duarte, Tracey Moreen and Lauren Spirig. It requested agency responses within 30 days. Patch reported that Township officials were not taking a position on the projects and were not assuming they would affect the Township.

Kelly’s letter advocates a broader review; it does not authorize a countywide study or change project approvals.