Honeywell International, Inc. confirmed Friday it is moving its corporate headquarters from Morris Plains to Charlotte, North Carolina, but that most jobs — at least for now — will remain in New Jersey.

The planned relocation comes just three years after the company received a $40 million tax credit to keep its headquarters in New Jersey, in a deal brokered and heralded by then-Gov. Chris Christie.

Morris Plans Mayor Frank Druetzler told NJ Advance Media the impending move, first reported on Thursday, caught him by surprise.

“This one came out of left field," said Druetzler, who is ending his 32-year run as mayor at year’s end.

“My preference is that they stay here, but obviously they’re not. We’re going to miss them,” Druetzler said of Honeywell.

The move to Charlotte hinges on a state and local tax incentive plan being approved in North Carolina, which Honeywell said it expected to be completed early next week.

About 150 to 200 New Jersey-based senior management positions and about 100 South Carolina-based positions will relocate to Charlotte between now and September 2019, Honeywell said.

Druetzler said there are about 1,000 Honeywell employees in Morris Plains.

“I am pleased that we have 800 jobs staying here in Morris Plains,” the mayor said.

The company said it plans to gradually move another 500 positions by the end of 2024, with the jobs coming from multiple locations and not just New Jersey.

“Though we’re never happy when any jobs leave our state, we appreciate their continued commitment and confidence in New Jersey," Gov. Phil Murphy said in a statement. "By maintaining such a strong foothold here, Honeywell is reaffirming their commitment to being a part of New Jersey’s future.”

Honeywell’s chairman and chief executive officer, Darius Adamczyk, said the company wants the headquarters to be closer to its business hubs in Charlotte but also Atlanta, Ga., which is home to Honeywell Building Technologies and Honeywell Connected Enterprise.

“Our decision does not reflect any issues with the quality of our experience in New Jersey,” Adamczyk said. “We value the strong relationship that we have built with the state of New Jersey and with Governor Murphy. New Jersey will remain a substantial employment center for us.”

Some Republicans, though, were blaming Murphy and the Democratic-controlled N.J. Legislature.

Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce, R-26th District, said Honeywell’s decision “should be a wake-up call to residents.”

“It is clear that Democrats do not have the ability to understand what their tax policies are doing to New Jersey,” said DeCroce, whose district includes Morris Plains.

Honeywell develops systems for military aircraft, space satellites and automated office buildings, among other services.

The company was based a few miles away in Morris Township when, in 2010, it announced it was considering leaving the state.

Christie and state lawmakers developed an incentive plan to keep Honeywell. The company purchased the Morris Plains site, which previously was owned by Johnson & Johnson, in 2013.

Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.