Advancing School Athletic Projects Despite Land-Use Challenges
New Jersey school districts rely on modern, safe athletic facilities to support both student development and community use. Yet even well‑planned improvements can face significant delays when local land‑use disputes arise.
Montclair’s Woodman Athletic Field project is a recent example. Led by Ted Del Guercio, MS&B represented the Montclair Board of Education in reaching a settlement that allowed the project to move forward while incorporating design modifications responsive to community concerns.
On October 7, the Hon. Stephen Petrillo upheld that settlement, denying a neighbor’s attempt to intervene and send the matter back to local land‑use boards.
This ruling reaffirmed longstanding precedent under the New Jersey Educational Facilities Construction and Financing Act, clarifying that Woodman Field qualifies as a school facilities project. As such, it is exempt from local bulk and conditional‑use requirements and instead falls under the oversight of the New Jersey Department of Education.
For school districts across New Jersey, this decision provides important clarity: districts have the authority to develop the facilities students need, without undue obstruction, when projects fall within the state’s regulatory framework.