Editor’s note: This is the first in a series about the master plan re-examination report. This post will focus on problems and objectives identified in the original 1997 master plan, which was amended several times since, most recently in 2010.
The city’s master plan was last updated completely in 1997, with multiple amendments and revisions, most recently in 2010. The goals of the master plan remain valid, including protecting neighborhoods from commercial and industrial encroachment and encouraging a variety of housing and mixed use development, among others, according to Paul Phillips, principal of Hoboken-based Phillips Preiss Grygiel Leheny Hughes, LLC.
Phillips presented the Planning Board with a 46-page draft re-examination report on the master plan during its special meeting on June 12. The Planning Board unanimously accepted the draft and City Council ultimately will determine whether to implement any recommendations.
The re-examination report provided a look at four problems identified in the master plan and their current status:
The population is maturing and aging
Demographics have changed over the years, with the city’s population peaking in 1970 then declining until an uptick began in 1990. The population has increased by 10 percent between 2010 and 2017, eclipsing 30,000. Since the master plan in 1997, an aging population trend has reversed, with some change in housing stock, according to Phillips. The 65- to 84-year-old population has declined, with the biggest increase among 25- to 34-year-olds. That’s a combination of new homeownership, representing old and new housing, and building permits, he said.
The proportion of Rahway residents age 65 or older has been decreasing since 1990. This change is due to growth in other segments of the population, as well as a decrease in the total number of residents age 65 or older since 2000. Rahway has a diversity of housing types, which includes senior-only housing as well as other housing types beyond single-family homes. Transit-oriented downtown housing, which has attracted younger residents in Rahway, may also be a desirable housing type for older residents as well, according to the report.
The nearly 500 multi-family units built between 2010 and 2017 have been geared toward younger households, driving the median age in Rahway down to 37.9, lower than the 38.8 in 2010 and lower than the county median (38.5) and state median (39.5).
A decline in manufacturing
“The post-industrial transition has meant changing use categories, such as former factories being reoccupied by offices, retailers, distributors and other uses.” In other areas, there’s the opportunity for warehouse, distribution and logistics uses, taking advantage of the city’s proximity to Newark Airport and the Port of New York and New Jersey’s facilities in Newark and Elizabeth.
Retail has fled downtown for regional malls & highway strip developments
“Retail of all types has been challenged by the growth of online shopping” but there are trends that favor traditional mixed-use downtowns, according to the report, including a preference for “experience-based places, with dining, entertainment and activities.” Rahway offers these types of attractions, with an emphasis on arts and culture. In fact, regional malls have fallen out of favor and many are being redeveloped, in some instances as mixed-use ‘town centers’ – much like a traditional downtown.”
Reliance on major highways for passenger, freight movement
Truck and vehicular traffic has displaced rail and waterborne forms of transportation. The change in transportation preferences provides an opportunity as noted above for Port-related development. However, there is a need to address the impacts of increased truck traffic from this type of development.”
