Master Plan Re-exam - July 2012 - Marlboro Township, NJ

the township of marlboro master plan reexamination report - july 2012
IV. THE EXTENT TO WHICH SUCH PROBLEMS AND OBJECTIVES HAVE BEEN REDUCED OR HAVE
INCREASED.
The Township has addressed many of the issues identified in the Reexamination Report.
Community Vision Plan
The Township adopted the Community Vision Plan as an element of the Township’s Master Plan
in July 2010. The purpose of the Community Vision Plan was to provide a framework for the
coordination of key planning initiatives, to coordinate the Town’s planning efforts with regional
planning entities and State agencies, and to provide recommendations for enhancing existing
connections and creating new connections. The Community Vision Plan provides a unified, longterm
Township-wide strategic vision that reinforces the continued implementation of Smart Growth
principles in the Township.
A key component of establishing the Community Vision was an extensive public outreach process.
The outreach process included a series of well advertised public meetings where issues and
opportunities were identified. A Vision Plan committee was also established that met periodically
throughout the process and provided insight and general guidance.
The following issues were identified through the visioning process in order of importance:
• Limit residential development: There has been an increasing amount of residential
development throughout the Township in the past. Therefore, the impacts of additional
residential development in the Township were a major concern. In addition, the balanced
provision of affordable housing while limiting residential development is critical.
• Mixed-use village center: The lack of an “identified center,” with pedestrian-friendly mixeduses
including restaurants/shops was one of the key land use issues identified. A pedestrian
friendly Village Center should be created to incorporate a mixture of residential and retail
options along with distinctive restaurants, coffee shops, antique and specialty shops. This
invigorated “Center” should be located in a centralized area of the Township, include
problems and objectives - Extent of change IV - 1