To listen to this article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvRtZy2MgkU
As I have done in past articles, I qualify what I am
about to write on this particular matter (the “Master Plan”) by emphasizing
that it’s the main subject of entire books containing hundreds of pages,
usually targeted to people who navigate in the field of municipal law. As a
result, my realistic goal here is to provide the reader with a basic
understanding and peak their curiosity enough to do their own research or,
ideally, involve themselves in the process and have their opinions heard when
they matter most. Yes, this is not only an informative article; it is an
invitation to get involved!
Our community is about to undertake the comprehensive process
of preparing and adopting a “Master Plan.”
In the broadest terms, the Master Plan, a written and formal document, articulates
the community’s vision of what it wants to be socially, economically, and
physically. In less broad terms, it is the document that creates the foundation
for the local zoning and land ordinances that govern development within the
community to protect its public health, safety, and general welfare and preserve
our quality of life. It is a big deal. The Master Plan describes the town's current and proposed patterns of land use in text, maps and diagrams.
The NJ Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL) requires towns to adopt a Master Plan or prepare a Re-Examination Report every ten years. Our last re-examination report occurred in 2013[1] https://www.lawrencetwp.com/media/Departments/EngineeringPlanningZoning/Reports%20MP%20Ammendments/Reexamination%20Report%20of%20the%20master%20Plan,%20dated%20May%2020,%202013.pdf. Our last comprehensive Master Plan was adopted in 1995 https://www.lawrencetwp.com/media/Departments/EngineeringPlanningZoning/Reports%20MP%20Ammendments/Master%20Plan%20of%20the%20Township%20of%20Lawrence%20dated%20June%201995.pdf. Though we have remained compliant with the law, I think it is fair to say that things have changed significantly in all respects (i.e., socially, economically, physically, technologically and atmospherically, etc.) since 1995 and, as a result, now is the time to undertake this essential process to establish who we are, what we want to be, and how we can get there by revising our Master Plan.
The Lawrence Township Planning Board and the Lawrence Township Municipal
Council members have agreed to and enthusiastically support this process. Interestingly, the Master Plan process is controlled by the Planning Board, not our Governing Body (i.e., council members). What the Governing Body does in this process is appoint Planning Board members (already completed) to serve specific terms, and they adopt the municipal budget that funds the Master Plan process in the year the process is to be undertaken. In addition, there are two council members who also serve as Planning Board members, and they will be directly involved in the preparation of the Master Plan. But this gig is, by law, performed by the Planning Board, the appointed professionals, and, of course, with public participation as a priority component.
As a community, the next twelve or so months will involve
a two-step process: (1) preparing and adopting a less onerous re-examination
report (before the expiration of 2023) and (2) preparing and adopting a new Master
Plan. For this article, the following will focus on the Master Plan process.
Creating a new Master Plan starts with a process initiated and undertaken
by the Planning Board guided by our Municipal Planner, Elizabeth McManus, PP,
AICP, LEED AP of KMA Associates, Hopewell, NJ. In Ms. McManus’s proposal to the
board, she states,
“an updated [plan] will allow the Township to adjust or
create new policies to account for new
development and development approvals, and market conditions that have arisen over the last several years,
many of which have been exacerbated by the Covid- 19 Pandemic. Additionally, with the threats of climate change
becoming more of a reality, comprehensive
planning is crucial to the health and well-being of communities…”
Once the process is
completed and deemed acceptable to the Planning Board members, it is adopted by resolution and provides the framework for the Planning Board and the governing body to develop the elements of good land use, including meeting local housing and economic development needs and protecting open space and important natural resources. For me, the preparation of a comprehensive Master Plan is by far the most important responsibility the Planning Board undertakes - and it happens every ten years.
Under NJ law, a Master Plan must contain our community's (1) statement of objectives, principles, assumptions, policies, and standards upon
which development proposals are based; and (2) a land use element that considers
natural conditions, including topography, soil conditions, water supply, drainage,
floodplain areas, marshes, and woodlands. It should show existing and proposed
land use and describe population and development intensity.
In addition to what it must contain, a Master Plan has optional elements, which include assessing community facilities, conservation, circulation, economic
development, historic preservation, housing, recreation, recycling, and
utilities. Something of interest to everyone!
Importantly, our Elected Officials and the Planning Board
members are committed to a robust and transparent process that will include a comprehensive
plan for public participation (multiple public sessions on specific subject
matters) to help ensure the input received reflects representative sections of
our community, committees, and organizations, and will also ensure that documents created along the way are easily accessible
via our website. Knowing our community as I do, I am sure many interested
residents will be attending and participating in this critical process – which
is a great thing.
As we navigate this process, I will update you on my blog
LawrenceTownshipNJManagerKPN@blogspot.com. Until then, if someone asks
you what the Master Plan thingy is all about, now you are in the know!
[1] A re-examination
report must contain the following:
a.The major problems and objectives relating to
land development in the municipality at the time of the adoption of the last
reexamination report.
b.The extent to which such problems and objectives
have been reduced or have increased subsequent to such date.
c.The extent to which there have been significant
changes in the assumptions, policies, and objectives forming the basis for the
master plan or development regulations as last revised, with particular regard
to the density and distribution of population and land uses, housing
conditions, circulation, conservation of natural resources, energy
conservation, collection, disposition, and recycling of designated recyclable
materials, and changes in State, county and municipal policies and objectives.
d.The specific changes recommended for the master
plan or development regulations, if any, including underlying objectives,
policies and standards, or whether a new plan or regulations should be prepared.
e.The recommendations of the planning board
concerning the incorporation of redevelopment plans adopted pursuant to the
"Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c.79 (C.40A:12A-1 et
al.) into the land use plan element of the municipal master plan, and
recommended changes, if any, in the local development regulations necessary to
effectuate the redevelopment plans of the municipality.
