Morven development plan hits another snag

DEP commissioner says he will take seriously opposition by state Historic Sites Council

By: Marjorie Censer
   Historic Morven Inc. appears to have hit another snag in its plan to remake its estate grounds.
   New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Bradley Campbell has said he will take seriously the opposition of the state Historic Sites Council to Morven’s site Master Plan, though he has not yet made a decision, said Elaine Makatura, head of the department’s press office.
   Ms. Makatura said Mr. Campbell — who was not available for comment — would be "hard pressed" to oppose the council’s recommendation to deny Morven’s plans to add an administrative building and a visitors’ center on either side of the estate and demolish the pool, pool house and tennis court complex in the rear.
   Morven Museum and Garden, owned by the state and operated by Historic Morven Inc., was constructed by Declaration of Independence signer Richard Stockton in the 1750s.
   The Route 206 mansion was later home to Gen. Robert Wood Johnson and served as the governor’s mansion from 1954 until 1982.
   Martha Wolf, executive director of Morven, was on vacation and unavailable for comment.
   At a meeting earlier this month, the council struggled to come to a decision but voted 4-3 to recommend the application’s rejection.
   In particular, members of the council criticized what the said was the vagueness of the plans and asked for more specific information about the buildings planned for construction.
   The size of the buildings was identified — the visitors’ center is slated for roughly 5,000 square feet, while the administrative facility is planned to be 2,600 square feet — but Morven representatives said they have not yet been designed by New York-based Rafael Vinoly Architects.
   Council members also expressed support for retaining the pool house — if not the pool and tennis court — arguing that the pool house contributes to an understanding of Morven as a governor’s mansion.
   Ms. Makatura emphasized that Mr. Campbell has not made a formal decision, but is weighing the decision of the council.
   She said the department would not determine the next steps for Morven if its application is denied until and unless Mr. Campbell formally rejects the application.