104-24 Exhibits-Economic Development Counsultant - 2024.pdf

Client: City of Orange Township, NJ Location: City of Orange Township, NJ Project Features: Master Plan Outreach and Engagement Historic Preservation Project Setting: Urban Area Nishuane Group Team PROJECT PROFILE: MASTER PLAN Menbes . . Gerard Haizel, PP,AICP. City of Orange Township Master Plan eee ESRI RUSE Shawna Ebanks, AICP The Challenge Joseph Daguman Before the adoption of its new master plan, the City was operating from a 2006 master plan. With a rapidly changing and diversifying population, community engagement was a crucial component. The City was experiencing significant changes in its development patterns that were not reflected in the existing (old) master plan. The City’s rapidly changing population was changing the demand for various types of housing, with a growing predominance of single-headed and smaller families. This factor was placing pressure on the City's older and historic housing stock. Additionally, with the City becoming more diverse racially, ethnically and socio-economically, community outreach and engagement around the development of the master plan was particularly challenging. Our Process Nishuane Group designed an outreach and engagement process that encouraged active participation across the resident community and gave traditionally “hard to reach” constituents like the youth and seniors, an opportunity to have meaningful input in the planning process. Innovative engagement strategies that involved a variety of activities were tailored to the various constituent groups. Nishuane Group Planners facilitated discussions and encouraged participation to articulate their concerns about each element area of the plan. Special workshops were held for young professionals and millennials, a traditionally under-engaged group, but one whose input was deemed crucial for the future of the City. Additionally, focus group session were conducted with targeted groups, including NGOs, the Arts community, the Clergy and the Municipal Council. The Result The Master Plan for City of Orange Township is a broad and dynamic document which articulates a vision for a City that is rapidly growing and becoming more diverse. The Plan provides a vision for the future of the City that captures the many disparate perspective, all looking in one direction.