ABOUT THE MASTER PLAN
What is a Master Plan?: A Master Plan is a document adopted by the Planning Board that provides policy and guidance on land development issues and serves as the foundation for Township ordinances related to development. It acts like a blueprint for all development and redevelopment in the Township. This Master Plan will address the following topics: land use, transportation, environment, sustainability, economic development and open space / recreation.

The Master Plan will include several elements. Each element and a description of it (per the Municipal Land Use Law) is below.

Goals & Objectives: A statement of objectives, principles, assumptions, policies and standards upon which the constituent proposals for the physical, economic and social development of the municipality are based.

Green Buildings and Environmental Sustainability Plan Element: This Element shall provide for, encourage, and promote the efficient use of natural resources and the installation and usage of renewable energy systems; consider the impact of buildings on the local, regional and global environment; allow ecosystems to function naturally; conserve and reuse water; treat storm water on-site; and optimize climatic conditions through site orientation and design.

Conservation Element: This Element provides for the preservation, conservation, and utilization of natural resources, including, to the extent appropriate, energy, open space, water supply, forests, soil, marshes, wetlands, harbors, rivers and other waters, fisheries, endangered or threatened species wildlife and other resources, and which systemically analyzes the impact of each other component and element of the master plan on the present and future preservation, conservation and utilization of those resources.

Open Space & Recreation Element: This Element provides for a comprehensive system of areas and public sites for recreation.

Circulation Element: This Element provides for the location and types of facilities for all modes of transportation required for the efficient movement of people and goods into, about, and through the municipality, taking into account the functional highway classification system of the Federal Highway Administration and the types, locations, conditions and availability of existing and proposed transportation facilities, including air, water, road and rail.

Economic Development Element: This Element considers all aspects of economic development and sustained economic vitality, including (a) a comparison of the types of employment expected to be provided by the economic development to be promoted with the characteristics of the labor pool resident in the municipality and nearby areas and (b) an analysis of the stability and diversity of the economic development to be promoted.

Land Use Plan Element: This Element a) takes into account and states the relationship between the other elements and natural conditions, including, but not necessarily limited to, topography, soil conditions, water supply, drainage, flood plain areas, marshes, and woodlands; b) shows the existing and proposed location, extent and intensity of development of land to be used in the future for varying types of residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, educational and other public and private purposes or combination of purposes; c) states the relationship thereof to the existing and any proposed zone plan and zoning ordinance; and c) provides statement of the standards of population density and development intensity recommended for the municipality.

Planning Consistency Statement: While not an Element, the Master Plan must include a Planning Consistency Statement which shall include a specific policy statement indicating the relationship of the proposed development of the municipality, as developed in the master plan to (1) the master plans of contiguous municipalities, (2) the master plan of the county in which the municipality is located, (3) the State Development and Redevelopment Plan adopted and (4) the district solid waste management plan.

“Route 33 Symposium”

On August 6, 2010 the Master Plan Steering Committee of the Township Planning Board in association with Hamilton Partnership sponsored the Hamilton 2020 Symposium. On this Friday business owners and residents from the Route 33 corridor area got together at the Cedar Gardens banquet facility to discuss how the Route 33 business climate, function and aesthetics could be improved.

The corridor was split into four zones to based on location and shared characteristics. They are as follows:
· Zone A (Arts and Culture District). Zone A extends from the Township’s border with Trenton to the Route 295 overpass and includes such prominent places as the Arts and Culture Overlay District, the Suburban Plaza shopping center and the Army Reserve Center.

· Zone B (Westbound District). Zone B extends from the Route 295 overpass to Mercerville-Whitehorse Road and includes such prominent places as Mercerville and CVS.

· Zone C (Central District). Zone C extends from Mercerville-Whitehorse Road to Yardville-Hamilton Square Road and includes such prominent places as the Hamilton Shopping Center, vacant car dealerships and Acme shopping center.

· Zone D (Eastbound District). Zone D extends from Yardville-Hamilton Square Road to the border with Robbinsville Township and includes such prominent uses as the Forest Glen shopping center and Golden Crest offices.

The day began with a welcome address by Mayor John Bencivengo and Greg Blair of the Hamilton Partnership. Phil Caton, Township Master Plan Consultant, then provided an overview of the Township as a whole and the Route 33 corridor in particular. Once completed, the attendees split into four breakout groups – one group for each corridor zone. A discussion in each group was led by a facilitator and a member of Township Staff – Phil Caton of Clarke Caton Hintz and Mike Guhanick worked with Zone A (Arts and Culture District), Beth McManus of Clarke Caton Hintz and Tim Amison worked with Zone B (Westbound District), Mike Pratico of the Hamilton Partnership and Rob Poppert worked with Zone C (Central District) and Greg Blair of the Hamilton Partnership and Rich Williams worked with Zone D (Eastbound District). Each group discussed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats relevant to each zone.

After completion of the breakout group discussions, all of the groups reconvened and a representative of each group presented their findings to all of the attendees. This was followed with closing remarks by the Mayor and Maurice Rached, a traffic engineer from Maser Consulting that will assist with the Master Plan.

There were several ideas shared by all or multiple groups. One common idea was the threat of crime; participants felt that crime, while not a major concern at this time, had the potential to be a negative influence on the corridor. A second common idea was that mixed use buildings, with second story residential, would be beneficial for revitalizing the area, increasing the customer base and providing additional income to property owners. Additionally, multiple groups spoke of the need for an improved streetscape – one that would be more accessible and friendly to pedestrians and would also be more aesthetically pleasing.

After completion of the breakout group discussions, all of the groups reconvened and a representative of each group presented their findings to all of the attendees. This was followed with closing remarks by the Mayor and Maurice Rached, a traffic engineer from Maser Consulting that will assist with the Master Plan.