Morristown Environmental Commission
Meetings are open to the public and occur
on the 1st Tuesday of the month. Check the Town Calendar for details.
About
The Environmental Commission was established for the protection, development or use of natural resources, including water resources, located within the territorial limits of the Town of Morristown. The Commission has power to conduct research into the use and possible use of the open land areas of the Town. It keeps an index of all open areas publicly or privately owned, including open marshland, swamps, and other wetlands, in order to obtain information on the proper use of such areas and may from time to time recommend to the Planning Board plans and programs for inclusion in the Master Plan and the development and use of such areas.
The Environmental Commission shall have power to study and make recommendations concerning open space preservation, water resources management, air pollution control, solid waste management, noise control, soil and landscape protection, environmental appearance, marine resources and protection of flora and fauna.
Ongoing Morristown Environmental Commission Initiatives
- Composting Pilot Project
- Jacob Ford Pollinator Garden (with Shade Tree Commission) Shade Tree Commission - Morristown, NJ
- Open Space Recreation Plan Update
- Environmental Resources Inventory Update
- Supporting Clean Communities Coordinator Projects Clean Communities - Morristown, NJ
Open Space and Recreation Plan
The Town of Morristown’s Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP) serves as a guide for open space protection and preservation in our municipality. The Town of Morristown is currently working on an update to the 2011 OSRP. The Morristown Environmental Commission is part of a Townwide Steering Committee, run by the Planning Department to review the prior open space priorities and identify new opportunities for new open space and capital improvements at existing facilities.
The OSRP serves as a tool that enables our community to pursue open space preservation in a systematic, cost-effective manner that best meets our social needs and protects natural resources. Because open space preservation is generally pursued over a long period of time, through many successive administrations, it is imperative that a comprehensive plan be in place to assure continuity and policy consistency.
As a result of the 2025 referendum vote to support the implementation of an Open Space Trust Fund, established through a dedicated taxpayer funds, the 2026 OSRP will serve as a long range planning and policy tool for the use of such Open Space Trust funds.
This plan was funded in part through a grant from the New Jersey Highlands Council.
Town of Morristown's Environmental Resource Inventory
The Environmental Commission is performing a 2026 update to the 2011 Town of Morristown’s Environmental Resource Inventory (ERI). The ERI brings together information on natural resource characteristics, environmental features and historical trends that will serve as the basis for land use planning and policy decisions by the Town Council, Planning Board and Board of Adjustments. The ERI enables the community, through its environmental commission and open space committee, to play a significant role in municipal master planning, land use ordinance development, and site plan review.