March 1, 2017

The Board and Mr. Grygiel discussed past COAH obligations placed on developers, the effect of group homes and new single-family residences on the COAH numbers, and the West Orange Housing Rehabilitation Program. The Public Advocate and Public had no questions or comments. There was no further discuss on the matter. Master Plan Reexamination Update Introduced by: Chairman Robert Bagoff; Presented by: Paul Grygiel, PP, AICP, Township Planner Chairman Bagoff address the Chamber. The Reexamination Plan Update was intended to help ensure that future development of the Township be balanced and sustainable. Much growth was occurring in the Township including the South Mountain Recreation Complex, Turtle Back Zoo, and the Central Avenue development partnership with the City of Orange. There were many stakeholders including St. Barnabas Medical Center, the County, the State, PSE&G. and Verizon. West Orange was home to every type of housing stock, houses of worship, and a major interstate highway. It had a great school system, was one of the most socio-economically and culturally diverse towns in New Jersey. The last Master Plan Reexamination Update was done in 2010; the law states the plan must be reexamined within a ten-year period (2020). The plan has several components including its stakeholders — the Town Council, Planning Board, Zoning Board, Fire Department, Police Department, Township businesses, and the Public. He said the Board would be working over the next year to update the Master Plan; he welcomed the input of all stakeholders. He suggested the Public visit the Township website and familiarize themselves with all relative documents. Mr. Grygiel stated the Township’s Master Plan was last updated in 2010. Subsequently many changes had occurred including COAH, the economy, new laws and regulations at the State and Federal level, and new development in surrounding municipalities. He stated it made sense to start the process of what the Township stakeholders want the Township to look like going forward; he emphasized that stakeholder involvement was very important. He stated he was involved in the 2010 Reexamination Report; the gathering of information included meeting with Township officials, employees, the Public, entities such as the West Orange Public Library, the Historic Preservation Commission, etcetera. Mr. Grygiel stated that an important aspect

ed meeting with Township officials, employees, the Public, entities such as the West Orange Public Library, the Historic Preservation Commission, etcetera. Mr. Grygiel stated that an important aspect of the Reexamination effort that he felt needed to be addressed was coordinating efforts among the various Township groups such as the Pedestrian Safety Advisory Board and the Downtown West Orange Alliance. He opined there were many groups that wanted to help the Township, but it was his suggestion that their efforts be done through the Master Plan Reexamination process. In that way there would not be competing efforts, the Planning Board would in essence become a “central clearing house”. He stated it was his understanding the Township administration was behind these efforts. The next steps included devising an exact timetable and funding for the project that would include mapping, data gathering, community outreach, meeting with various community groups (i.e. public workshops). He reiterated the project was not a rush, the Township had until 2020 to complete the next update; however; he suggested the Board deal with some of the more pressing issues, such as pedestrian safety; zoo projects, and the Prism project.