Monday, July 17, 2023

What’s this Lawrence Township Master Plan thingy people are starting to chirp about?

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.

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