Editor’s note: This is the second in a series about the master plan re-examination report. This post focuses on goals and objectives identified in the report.

The master plan re-examination report identified 18 goals and objectives. They touch on a variety of areas, ranging from encouraging mixed-use development downtown and elsewhere, and ensuring new development on vacant or underused land is in keeping with existing neighborhood character, to providing adequate infrastructure, increasing walkability, and developing housing of various types.

Paul Phillips, principal of Hoboken-based Phillips Preiss Grygiel Leheny Hughes, LLC 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 master plan was last updated completely in 1997, with multiple amendments and revisions, most recently in 2010.

The re-examination report identified the following as goals and objectives, which can be found in Section IV of the report, on pages 18-19):

• Maintain a proper balance between land uses so that the city’s population is adequately served by a sound employment base and sufficient services.
• Protect residential neighborhoods from commercial, industrial and office encroachments.
• Provide adequate public facilities for the city’s population, including schools, parks, libraries, recreation and open space, fire and police, and solid waste disposal.
• Provide an opportunity for the development of housing of various types and sizes, to meet the needs of people at various stages in their life cycle.
• Encourage adequate affordable housing opportunities, especially for young families and senior citizens.
• Encourage mixed-used development in the central business district and other appropriate locations, such as within selected commercial and retail zones.
• Ensure that new development on vacant or underutilized land is in keeping with existing neighborhood character.
• Preserve open space and protect natural, cultural and historic resources.
• Provide a systematic plan for the acquisition of riverfront and upland parcels for additional open space and parkland.
• Provide social services adequate to meet the needs of elderly and handicapped residents, as well as increased need for child care.
• Encourage continued revitalization of the downtown area, including through partnerships between the public and private sectors.
• Provide adequate infrastructure to meet the needs of residents, businesses and visitors.
• Increased walkability throughout the city.
• Provide for efficient and safe traffic circulation while maintaining aesthetic quality and incorporating “Complete Streets” principles when possible.
• Optimize alternative modal choices, such as, buses, jitneys, taxis, walking, and bicycles, etc., in particular to access the railroad station.
• Protect lives and property from flood damage through stormwater control and management.
• Encourage continued redevelopment of underused and contaminated industrial sites known as brownfields.
• Improve development approval process by providing all zoning, subdivision and land use procedures under one comprehensive land development ordinance.