Vernon outlines design standards for new town center

Vernon - Vernon's new town center will be the heart and soul of Vernon, the place where the community comes together, say its supporters. The Glenwood Homes building on Church Street and the new Appalachian Hotel on Route 94 South stand as examples of the architectural character the center will possess. With the help of Maser Engineering, Vernon has been working for several years on town-center design standards for the council to memorialize in a new ordinance. The standards now exist in a semi-final draft, with only technical details remaining to complete. The state-designated town-center area encompasses a wide expanse of properties along the confluence of Routes 94 and 515 north of Breakneck Road, including Church Street, Vernon Crossing Road, as well as land contiguous to Route 94 south as far as Sandhill Road. With Mountain Creek as a destination area, and the town center to complement it, Vernon can be a state icon, said Mary Emilius, director of client and community services for the Sussex County Economic Development Partnership, Inc. From the start, the goal was to create a town center that looks natural in Vernon's rural environment. "We went to Warwick and Sussex for inspiration," said Jeff Patterson, who served as a liaison to the town center committee until he resigned from the township council last month. "We also looked at some Pennsylvania towns, trying to identify the look that was right for Vernon. Finally, we settled on an eclectic look that features complementary styles, rather than one single style. The goal was to end up with a look that appeared organic and not contrived." The committee fixed upon an architectural blend of 19th and early 20th century farmhouses, with porches and half-brow windows, as well as buildings with features taken from the rustic mixture of stone and wood featured in Adirondack Camp Style. Adirondack style combines subtle, practical details that protect a building against the elements, and cause it to harmonize with the environment. Often it features a dash of color, usually red, seen on window frames. "Vernon is a four-season community," said Township planner Fred Suljic. "We want the look and feeling of rural New Jersey, to complement the existing farms, barns and rock walls. We want the look of real Americana." "We didn't want the sanitized, homogenized look of some planned communities. But, if too much freedom is allowed, you risk getting the ‘purple ice cream cone' look," said Deputy Mayor Janet Morrison. "We wanted to manage from confidence, not from fear, so we chose a palette that's not too restrictive, because we want to leave room for fun." The proposed palette features "earth tones" of muted, organic hues, such as soft greens, blues, browns, reds and golds on the old Wheatsworth Mill signs. Morrison explained that by "fun" she meant life, lights and activity. The new Highlands Bank, with its gabled roof and stonework features, was inspired by the Adirondack style. The new design standards don't feature Victorian architecture, although it is not banned Morrison also remarked about the importance of considering older residents in providing areas of green space, comfortable benches, lighting, accessible easy parking and signs that are easy to read. "We want the walkways to be senior friendly, without uneven surfaces that could cause walkers to trip." The long-anticipated Vernon town center became a reality when township officials broke ground on a rainy day in July, almost a year after initially breaking ground for the new Main Street that will serve as the center's spine. The plans include mixed commercial, office, and residential use in a walkable pedestrian center, according to the guidelines Maser produced for Vernon. Before giving the project full throttle, the township had to obtain rights of way and other permits, including those for the sewer lines that will serve the center, and without which the center couldn't be built. The town center concept remains controversial, with environmentalists, including the Sierra Club, challenging the merits of the concept on the grounds that it's unsound: The aquifer may not be sufficient to serve the area, and the sewers will be costly and environmentally risky. Last year, the N.J. Chapter of the Sierra Club appealed to the Appellate Division of the N.J. Supreme Court to overturn the state planning board's town center designations for Vernon. Jeff Tittle of the Sierra Club said the state appellate division heard arguments in July, and should rule by September or October on the intrinsic worth of the Sierra Club's claim. Tittel said that the Vernon town center designation does not fit state planning standards because it is too large, being in the shape of a giant horseshoe that takes in Mountain Creek and Legends, as well as the two hotels Andrew Mulvihill plans to build on the Sammis farm property. Tittel alleged that Vernon may not have sufficient water to serve the town center area. The club also says that neither the state nor Vernon filed proper public notice before embarking on what the club terms a misguided course. "The town center is just an excuse for overdevelopment," Tittel said. "Vernon has done everything right," replied Councilman Neil Desmond. "Everything we did was in keeping with the state plan. I can't believe that the courts will rule against the center." Vision for Vernon Town Center began about ten years ago, when Vernon Chamber of Commerce members and others began the series of studies that led to Vernon's July 2003 town center designation. Working with the nonprofit group, Downtown New Jersey, committee members Jeff Patterson, John Logan, Mary Emilius, Steve Jecker, Vernon "Kip" Merritt and Kris Wheaton kept refining the plans and exploring ideas. Also involved were planning board members, township officials and local residents. "Downtown New Jersey provided a team of architects and planners, who gave us advice on how to come up with the plan that is best for Vernon," said Mary Emilius. "Beth Lippman, the director of Downtown New Jersey, said Vernon was like having a fresh palette to work with." Downtown New Jersey is a nonprofit organization that helps towns formulate plans for appropriate, aesthetically sound redevelopment. Emilius went on to say that people are passionate about the vision for Vernon, because planned growth would stop sprawl. "The town center will provide products and services, family-oriented dining and entertainment. It will be the place for the community to come together," she said. In cooperation with Suljic, Maser Engineering created the original town center plan from which the township council will derive an ordinance to codify the design standards. The state Planning Commission designates town centers to encourage towns to gather new development in specific areas, thereby averting sprawl and allowing large areas of undeveloped open space. Among the incentives for centralized development are priority status in receiving state aid for infrastructure development, including sewer and water lines, treatment plants, and streets.