The borough says the revised proposal focuses on essential safety upgrades after residents raised concerns about cost and the possibility of moving police operations off Speedwell Avenue.
The revised proposal would keep police operations at Borough Hall while addressing holding-area deficiencies, safety concerns and future department growth.
The May 7 presentation outlines one- and two-story options for additions and alterations at the police department and borough hall, with total project costs estimated between $5.1 million and $6.7 million depending on the final scope.
MORRIS PLAINS, NJ – Morris Plains officials have revised the borough’s police facility proposal after residents raised concerns about cost and the possibility of moving police operations off Speedwell Avenue, according to a public update from Chief Michael M. Koroski and a May 7, 2026 Borough Council presentation on the project. The updated plan focuses on additions and alterations to the existing Morris Plains Police Department/Borough Hall complex, with officials saying the work has been narrowed to safety, compliance and operational needs.
The presentation identifies several “bottom line musts” for the project, including correcting holding and processing area deficiencies, complying with New Jersey Department of Corrections and Juvenile Justice Commission standards, addressing safety concerns for officers, detainees, victims and witnesses, improving police operations, allowing for future departmental growth and completing a schematic design study within 90 days.
The revised approach follows community feedback on an earlier proposal. Koroski said department leadership and a Borough Council committee went “back to the drawing board” after hearing concerns about the project’s cost and the potential relocation of police operations off Speedwell Avenue.
The new presentation shows a plan centered on the existing facility. Design notes call for maximizing current building infrastructure, minimizing selective demolition, adding new floor, wall and ceiling finishes, installing LED lighting throughout police areas and building an addition in the east courtyard area that would extend into existing parking spaces.
The proposal also includes a proposed parking layout and a card reader for the sallyport door, according to the presentation. A sallyport is a secured entry area commonly used by police departments for controlled movement of detainees and vehicles.
The presentation lays out two cost scenarios. The one-story option, described as “police only,” would include a 2,000-square-foot first-floor addition, 1,700 square feet of basement alterations and 3,700 square feet of first-floor alterations, for a total of 7,400 square feet of work. Its construction cost range is listed at $4.326 million to $5.009 million, with a total project cost range of $5.113 million to $5.920 million.
The two-story option, described as “police + borough,” would include a 4,000-square-foot addition across the first and second floors, 1,700 square feet of basement alterations, 3,700 square feet of first-floor alterations and 200 square feet of second-floor alterations, for a total of 9,600 square feet. That option lists a construction cost estimate of $4.8735 million to $5.643 million, with a total project cost of $5.751 million to $6.659 million.
The presentation states that officials are striving to develop a design that can be constructed for a total project budget of $5 million, though both total project cost ranges shown in the presentation begin above that figure. The presentation does not identify a selected option, final funding plan, construction start date or date for a formal vote.
The proposal also notes operational considerations during any construction. The presentation says officials should continue thinking about construction phasing and how to reduce disruption to borough staff and the public. It also calls for separating out costs for future HVAC equipment replacements and considering visual and acoustical effects on second-floor borough spaces.
The project has been studied through several earlier materials, according to the presentation, including a May 31, 2024 preliminary report by Musial Group Architecture, a May 2024 feasibility assessment by Whitman Engineering, a Sept. 23, 2025 police headquarters improvements presentation, a flyer for a Nov. 4, 2025 ballot question and an April 23, 2025 draft project budget.
The borough’s announcement does not list a final project cost, construction timeline or date for a formal vote. It also does not specify which parts of the original proposal were removed or changed beyond saying the project was scaled back.
Residents can review the May 7 presentation through the borough’s website and watch for future Borough Council agenda items involving funding, design work, construction approvals or additional public discussion.