Balancing Growth & Greenspace in Denville
What Makes Denville Special - and the Special Interests that Threaten It
When we talk about what makes Denville special, it’s not just our downtown or our schools — it’s the trees, the quiet neighborhoods, the trails behind our homes, and the wildlife that still finds a way to live among us.
Little by little, that’s slipping away.
Over the past few years, our town has approved multiple major development projects — and each one has chipped away at the natural environment that defines our community. I’ve spent time looking into these projects, and I want to share what I’ve found — and why it should concern all of us.
Before and after the Weiss-Aug Development, on the Denville-Parsippany border, via satellite imagery (credit - Google Earth). Use the slider to see the before & after.
Before and after the Weiss-Aug Development, from the perspective of a Denville Resident (credit - Parsippany Focus). Use the slider to see the before & after.
The controversial Mason Ridge Development on Route 10. This development has cleared ~20 acres of mature forest in steep slope areas previously restricted from development (Credit: Google Earth). Use the slider to see the before & after.
Controversial Projects: A New Normal?
The Mason Ridge Project
2024
Earlier this year, a developer cleared around 20 acres of forest off Route 10 to make room for the Mason Ridge townhome development. I understand that Denville, like every town in New Jersey, has a legal obligation to add affordable housing — and I support that. But should meeting that obligation require leveling a thriving forested area?
One resident told me: "Every day since the clearing started, wildlife of all kinds are fleeing as their habitat is destroyed, and with nowhere to go."
The town accepted a
$540,000 payment for tree removal — a price that doesn’t reflect the true loss of habitat, shade, or stormwater protection.
The Vanderhoof Warehouse
2025
In March, the Planning Board approved a nearly 120,000-square-foot warehouse on Vanderhoof Avenue — right along a 19-acre site near the Rockaway River. This might look like smart economic development on paper, but projects like this mean more pavement, more traffic, and more pressure on our roads and runoff systems.
Once again, another green space will be paved over — and residents of Denville nor Rockaway didn’t have a meaningful say before the approval. Rockaway Township even published an official resolution to support public opposition.
"The warehouse was approved without a comprehensive traffic study and over significant environmental as well as Highlands Preservation Area concerns" - Rockway Township Resolution R-24-78.
Weiss-Aug Expansion
2024
Then there’s the Weiss-Aug metal stamping facility, built right up against homes on Fox Chase Drive. What used to be a backyard view of woods is now an industrial wall and security lights. Residents weren’t just surprised — they felt blindsided.
“I used to see deer. Now I see concrete,” one neighbor told a reporter.
From the Parsippany Focus: Parsippany Resident Amit Mitra said “Wild turkey, coyotes, deer, Fox cubs, and other animals often played right here,” while pointing down toward the ground. “The development not only destroys the beautiful, peaceful ambiance we had, and negatively impacts the values of our homes, but also impacts our safety and security.”
So What Does This All Mean?
Fewer Trees
Trees help control flooding and improve air quality, water quality, temperature regulation, provide habitat for fauna, etc.
More Flooding
More impervious surfaces accelerate stormwater runoff into our already vulnerable low-lying areas, exacerbating the flooding problem.
More People
Without infrastructure planning to support them. More people, more traffic, overcrowded schools, overstressed utilities = more taxes.
It's a Pattern
We cannot normalize the behavior of development happening to our community instead of with us. If the priority is fiscal conservation instead of natural conservation, we will all lose.
WE HAVE A CHOICE - YOU CAN HELP
We can fix this together.
Denville residents deserve thoughtful planning, clear communication and a future-focused strategy for growth and sustainability. We cannot mortgage our natural resources for short-term tax breaks.
If you want to get involved, sign up below and I will share news of these developments with you.
If keeping Denville's natural character intact is important to you, please share and vote for me in November for Ward 1 Town Council.
-Cameron "Cam" Morissette, geologist, neighbor, dad.
Building Trust, Not Division
Town Council Election 2025
Denville deserves government that is both transparent and proactive. We need to be honest about how the system works — and then use every available tool to make it work better for everyone. Residents should consider candidates with environmental planning experience, like Cameron Morissette (Ward 1) and Patrick Bieger (At-Large).
A Campaign Promise
We need to pass clear laws that protect quality of life in Denville. This means listening before we legislate. And it means finding ways to support development without compromising the interests of existing residents who call Denville home.
Let's Protect What Makes Denville Special
I’m not a lawyer — but as someone who’s spent their career navigating regulatory systems, I can tell you this: Better laws lead to better outcomes. And that’s exactly what we can deliver — together.