EAST ORANGE, NJ — The city of East Orange is launching the process of overhauling its Community Master Plan to shape the physical, social, environmental and economic future of the city, in accordance with Municipal Land Use Law.
The updated Master Plan will provide a framework for preserving the city’s character, ensuring its diversity, supporting investment and promoting desired change.
“East Orange has achieved substantial progress in the past three years and we are ripe for renewal and growth,” said Mayor Lester E. Taylor III. “In our Master Plan, we will set forth a new direction through the smart planning of land use, transportation, economic development, sustainability, community services, housing policy and parks and recreation that will attract investment, bring in new residents and improve the quality of life for those who live, work and visit here.”
The new Master Plan will focus on the city’s strengths, such as its two train stations with direct service to New York City and its proximity to a number of major destinations, including the New Jersey Performing Arts Center, the Newark Museum, Prudential Center and five major universities.
A surge in interest from both former and new developers has already secured more than $400 million in private capital investment that represents new construction in every ward of the city. The work on the Master Plan will seek to capitalize on this momentum and develop strategies to lead the city into years of prosperity, Taylor added.
Efforts to update the Master Plan are being led by the Department of Policy, Planning and Development, through the leadership of Director Valerie Jackson.
“The city is rich with tremendous opportunities for adaptive re-use and creative placemaking,” said Jackson, who also oversaw the amendments required to the existing Master Plan in 2014. “Our team is passionate about this work and, over the next 11 months, we are looking forward to engaging our residents, businesses and other stakeholders in meaningful dialogue about the future of our city.”
A series of community meetings are being planned starting in March to include community input. For more information, call 973-266-5140.
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