Master Plan Reexamination Report

Town 'of Kearny, Hudson County, NeuJJersey

July 2002

Prepared by

Heyer, Gruel and Associates PA

Community Planning Consultants

63 Church Street, 2nd Floor ·

New Brunswick, New jersey. 08901

1he original of this report was signed and

sealed in accordance urith NJ.S.A 45:14A-12.

Susan S. Gruel, P.P. #1955

Chrisropher Leswing, Assistant Planner .

Table of Contents

lnttoduction •.••••••.••••••.••.•....••.....•.....•••.•.•.• ~······································································ 1 .

Majo~ Issues an.d O:t>jectives in. 1991................................................................................. 3

Extent 'to which ProblemS and Objectives

have been. Reduced or In.creased Since 1991 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.••••••••••••••••••• ~........... 5

Signific3n.t Ch.anges im.pac~ tb.e Master Plan................................................................... 19

Local •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• ~...................................................................................... 19

Cotmty"············-···································································································~······· 20 Sta.te............................................................................................................................ 21

Recommended clianges for the ToWn's Master Plan

an.d Lan.d DevelopJ]lent Regtii.ati.ons.......................... ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.•.••••••••.••••••••••••••• 23

Reccomendati.ons Regarding Redevelopment.................................................................. 26

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Introduction

This report constitutes the Master Plan Section A of this report identifies the goals and

Reexamination Report for the Town . objectives which were established in the 1991 Master

of Kearny as defined by the New Jersey Plan revision, Sections Band C describe what changes

Municipal Land Use Law (NJ.S.A40:55D-89). The have occurred in the Town, the County and the State

purpose of the Reexamination Report is to review since the adoption of the 1991 Master Plan Revision.

and evaluate the local Master Plan and Development Fmally, Sections D and E discuss recommended actions

Regulations on a periodic basis in order to determine to be addressed by the Town in the future.

the need for update and revisions. The Town ofKearny

adopted its last Master Plan revision in October 1990

and revised it March 11, 1991 (herein known as the

1991 Ma5ter Plan Revision). This report also serves as

an amendment to the 1991 Master Plan Revision.

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Periodic Reexamination

The New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law

requires that the Reexamination Report

contain the following:

A. The major problems and objectives relating to

land development in the municipality at the time of

the adoption of the last reexamination report.

B. The extent to which such problems and objectives

have been reduced or have increased subsequent to

such date.

C. The extent to which there have been significant

changes in assumptions, policies and objectives

forming the basis for the master plan or development

regulations as last revised, with particular regard to

the density and distribution of population and land

uses, housing conditions, circulation, conservation

of natural resources, energy conservation, collection,

diSposition, and recycling of designated recyclable

materials, and changes in State, county and municipal

policies and objectives.

D. The specific changes recommended for the master

plan or development regulations, if any, including

underlying objectives, poli~ies and standards,

or whether a new plan or regulations should be

prepared.

E. The recommendations of the planning board .

concerning the incorporation of redevelopment plans

adopted pursuant to the "Local Redevelopment and

Housing Law," P,L1992, c. 79 (C.40A:l2A-1 et seq.)

into the land use plan element of the municipal master

plan, and recommended changes, if any, in the local.

development regulations necessary to effectuate the

redevelopment plans of the municipality.

Statue of Majtrr General Philip Kearny in front of Midland Avenue Post Office.

A. Major Issues and Objectives in 1991

The 1991Master Plan Revision for the Town of

Kearny identified the Town as "a developed

municipality with well established housing,

commercial and industrial patterns". The 1991 Master

Plan recommendations were based upon "existing

development influences, established development .

patterns, the 1974 Master Plan andthe 1983 Master

Plan". The 1991 Master Plan Revision identified the

following goals, which form the basis for the plans,

policy statements and proposals· of the 1991 Master

Plan Revision.

• To rezone the South Kearny Industrial area

into two distinct districts (i.e. SKM-1 and

SKl\1~2) so as to create a better planned balance

between pure trucking terminal uses and other

uses.

• To encourage redevelopment in South Kearny

which maximizes as built tax r:atables and

readjust a land use imbalance, which exists

between the South Kearny area, which contains

a dominance of trucking terminals.

Public

• To ensure the retention of Town owned

Land Use Plan Element parkland for public use.

• To protect the character and value of

residential neighborhoods by regulating the

type and intensity ofland uses within residential

areas.

Ctm~merciOl

• To retain and encourage the development

of commercial uses in various locations in the

Town.

Industrial

• To maintain a consistent buffer between

heavy industrial and residential sections of the

community.

~ To reclassify the area along Harrison Avenue,

presently zoned for heavy industrial use, to light

industrial.

Kea~ Meadowlands

• To encourage planned, controlled growth

within the Kearny Meadowlands.

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Circulation Plan Element • To maintain and improve the street and

circulation system and provide access to all

segments of the town, where feasible.

• To relieve the congested parking situation along Kearny Avenue, Midland Avenue and in

neighborhood shopping areas.

• To improve the safety of pedestrian and

vehicular traffic flows.

• To guide the location of regional highway

facilities to avoid negative impacts to residents

and the local economy.

Housing Plan Element • To preserve and enhance the existing residential

character of the Town through maintenance

and conservation of its housing stock.

• :To promote objectives·for future residential

development which are consistent with

community goals.

• To provide for development of alternative

housing resour~es and housing types in the

Town to meet the needs of residents.

Utility Plan Element • To pursue· the improvement of the South Kearny

sewage treatment system.

• To maintain and improve the storm drainage

system serving Kearny.

• To maintain adequate water service to the

Town.

Community Facilities Plan Element • To maintain a high standard of community

services in the Town of Kearny by improving and

consolidating community facilities such that the

Town is efficiently and adequately served.

• To insure that public education is provided in

facilities, which are functionally adequate and

structurally sound.

Recreation Plan Element • To provide additional active and passive

recreation areas in the Town and expand

existing sites where feasible.

• To improve existing recreation areas to

serve community residents efficiently and

adequately.

Conservation Plan Element • To preserve the environmental resources of the

Town by:

• Limiting development in environmentally

sensitive areas.

• Encouraging general landscaping and

preservation of the Town's natural elements.

• Promoting an attractive appearance for new

development in Kearny.

B. The Extent to Which Such Problems and Objectives Have Been Reduced or Have Increased Since 1991

M any of the planning objectives detailed in

the 1991 Master Plan Revision continue

to remain yalid. Several of the objectives

no longer are valid and have been replaced with other

objectives. Many of the problems identified in the

previous Master Plan continue to remain as planning

issues while new problems have been identified.

Land Use Progress Report (1991- 2002)

The 1991 Master Plan Revision identified the Town

of Kearny as "a highly populated urban community"

with an established pattern of housing consisting of

single family, two family and multi-family residential

development." As many other inner communities,

the Town has experienced significant change during

the past eleven years; however, it continues to remain

as a strong viable community. The Town, however, has

seen the continued erosion ofits industrial base and has

experienced redevelopment of former manufacturing

sites into light industrial, warehousing, trucking,

mixed-uses and retail uses. From 1986 to 1996 the

employment in the Town declined by 26%. Much of

the decline has been in the manufacturing sector.

Kearny Urban Enterprise Zone

In order to proactively address economic development

in the Town, the Kearny Urban Enterprise Zone

(KUEZ) was established in 1985. The program was

originally limited to South Kearny and the revitalization

of the industrial activities iri the area. The boundaries

of the Zone have been amended in both 1992 ar;td

1998 to include commercial and industrial activities

throughout the rest of Kearny, including those within

the Meadowlands. As detailed on the accompanying

map, over 1,100 acres or 20% of the entire Town (1.86

square miles or 1,193 acres) is currently located within

theKUEZ.

KUEZ sponsored streetscape improvements alung Kearny Avenue. Photograph courl8sy of Kearny Urban Enterprise Zone.

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The focus of the Kearny Economic Zone Development

Corporation (KEDC), the management entity of the

UEZ, has been the following:

..i_ ~· ' ' ....

<> The revitalization of the Kearny Avenue

Commercial Corridor.

• The upgrade and economit development of the

Passaic Avenue and Schuyler Avenue areas.

o The economic revitalization of the South Kearny

industrial area.

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During the past 10 years $122 million dollars has

been expended through UEZ funds in the UEZ

designated areas to promote economic development

The program has led to the cre~tion of over 1,600

full-time jobs and over $167 million dollars of capital

improvements including:

• $3.8 million of infrastructure improvem~ts ... including roadway and flood control projects

in South Kearny along Jacobus and Hackensack

Avenues.

• $3 million of streetscape improvements along

Kearny Avenue.

., • $900,000 of public safety improvements including

the purchase of new police cars and surveillance

cameras.

./

• $57,000 thousand dollars of litter contro'l '• projects.

The KEDC has undertaken significant economic

development planning efforts over the past several

.years. The Town and the KEDC has retained a

consultant team to prepare a Strategic Plan forth~ UEZ

area in Kearny. The Plan identifies goals and objectivc:s

and establishes a comprehensive planning approach ·

to economic development within the UEZ designated

areas. Further, the Plan details action strategies

designed to implement the goals and objectives.

As part of the Strategic Plan approach, the Passaic

Avenue and the Schuyler Avenue areas have been

designated as redevelopment areas by the Town Council

in 2000. This designation provides the Town and the

KEDC with another planning/implementation tool

to be used in coordination with the UEZ regulations.

Redevelopment Plans for the designated areas have

been adopted and are elements of the KEDCStrategic

" Pl~. ( Redevelopment Area Map to be inserted)

The Redevelopment Plans supersede the existing

zoning for the areas and institute new use, bulk and

design standards to attract new investment and ensure

quality Q.evelopment .

The Passaic Avenue Plan calls for the transformation

of the industrial and commercial properties along

the Passiac River into a ·regional, mixed-use, urban

entertainment destination featuring new housing,

shopping and recreational activities. The P1an seeks

to reconnect the Area with the surrounding Uplands

neighborhoods through new pedestrian connections,

which terminate in a riverfront walkway along the

Passaic River. The Plan calls for the adaptive re-use

of s~veral of the exist.i.Jlg buildings for housing and

commercial activities and proposes detailed streetscape

improvements to enhance. the image of the Area.

The Schuyler Avenue Plan proposes to revitalize the

Area between the Eastside of Schuyler Avenue and the

Meadowlands District bOUndary with a combination ·. . of new commercial, light.:kdustrial, mixed-use and . . ··~·· . recreational uses. The Pi~. seeks to complement

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and expand upon recent redevelopment plans in the

Meadowlands by establishing a large-scale commercial

district along Harrison Avenue and light industrial

activities along the district boundary.· Infrastructure

improvements, including new internal roadways, are

proposed to improve access and remove truck traffic

from surrounding residential areas. The Plan seeks to

promote new economic activity within the Area while

reintegrating the properties along Schuyler Avenue

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. ' --

into the neighborhood commercial character of the

Uplands.

The Kearny Avenue Commercial Corridor, which

is part of the UEZ area, is currently undergoing a

streetscape project. The $2.5 million dollar project is

deSigned to enhance the appearance of the corridor

and includes decorative sidewalks, new street furniture

and street trees.

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As part of the UEZ efforts, the Town recently received

a USEDA Grant to extend and improve Bergen

Avenue from Schuyler Avenue to Harrison Avenue.

The $3.3 million-dollar project will assist in alleviating

the flooding in the area and provide much needed

infrastructure improvements, which will "open up" the

area between Schuyler Avenue ·and Harrison Avenue

for economic development. The project is being

coordinated with the efforts of the HMDC.

South &arrry

Although the 1983 Master Plan did not focus upon

the South Kearny Area, the 1991 Master Plan Revision

explored several issues including improving job

generation and tax ratables, and the reduction of visual

blight. The 1991 Report went on to recommend that

South Kearny be updated with more contemporary

zoning standards and rezoned into two distinct districts:

SKM-1 and SKM-2, (South Kearny Manufacturing 1 &

2).

The major difference between the two zones revolves

around trucking terminal uses. Trucking Terminals

would be permitted within SKM-1 as a matter of

right, while trucking terminals would be prohibited

in the SKM-2 Zone. The report recommended that

various incentives be employed to encourage the

transition away from trucking-oriented uses toward

light industrial and manufacturing activities in

SKM-1. This recommendation was consistent with the

stated objective of increasing ratables and reducing

the imbalance of truck oriented uses throughout the

July 2002

peninsula.

These recommendations, although not implemented,

have.become increasingly valid due to a number of

factors. These include the prevailing land use pattern,

recent redevelopment efforts and anticipated regional

port improvements.

South Kearny has developed in response to its location

at the headwaters ofN ewark Bay and its position astride

the national rail and road network. This has led the

peninsula to develop both as a manufacturing center in

south, around River Terminal, and as a transportation

center in the north, alongside the CSX and Norfolk

Southern rail depots. Decades long changes in both

manufacturing and rail transportation have resulted_in

the introductioJ?. of a third significant land use to the

peninsula, trucking/distribution. As detailed on the

Existing Land Use Map, the prevailing lapd use pattern

of South Kearny is anchored by rail facilities north of

Pennsrlvania Avenue andindustrial activities south of

Lincoln Highway with a mix of public, industrial and

trucking-related uses in between.

A number of significant projects are currently being

developed, which will increase the scope and nature

of economic activity in South Kearny. These evenJ

are centered upon the expansion of the regional port

system to capitalize upon NAFIA and other recent

free trade agreements. The most important projects

include the dredging of Newark Bay to accommodate

large-draft container ships, the construction of the

truck~dedicated· Partway system to move containers

between the ports and surrounding intermodal

facilities and the diSsolution of Conrail into privately

held CSX and Norfolk Southern. The Port Authority of

New York and New Jersey anticipates that these changes

will contribute to a doubling of port traffic by 2010 and

a ten-fold increase by 2040.

Proper planning is crucial for South Kearny to fully

capitalize upon anticipated growth. If the recent

expansion of the nation's largest port in Long-Beach-

Los Angles can serve as an example, international

trade will generate a local demand for industrial­

related activities, including manufacturing, value

added manufacturing and warehousing. Increased

port traffic will also create increased intermodal

activity, as more and more containers are shipped by

a combination of rail and trucks. The core planning

issue therefore revolves around establishing a balance

between land uses to ensuie that existing activities can

continue to grow and develop.

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Central to this balance is ensuring that intermodal­

oriented truck uses do not monopolize the peninsula's

transportation network or land area. While the

continued movement of trucks in distribution-activities

is important to South Kearny's economy, the long-term

storage of trucks and trailers is not a productive use

of limited land and results in visual blight The visual

blight resulting from unregulated container storage

not only discourages revitalization of South Kearny, but

also adversely affects the entire image of the Town.

It is therefore recommended that South Kearny be

rezoned intd two separate Districts SKI-N, (South

Kearny Industrial-North) and SKI-S, (South Kearny

lpdustrial-South), with the major distinction that truck

terminals are not permi~ted within SKI-S.

As indicated on the· Proposed Land Use Map, the line

between the two zones follows the prevailing land

use pattern and recognizes the need for continued

expansion of both manufacturing and intermodal

activities.

It is also recommended that the new Zoning Districts

contain new bulk and design standards to further

.regulate the physical appearance of the Area and

create a modern, industrial setting. Particular

emphasisshould be placed upon setbacks, permitted

storage areas, container storage heights, screening

and signage.

The Meculowlands

The 1991 Report notes the 1983 General Policy .

Statement and subsequent recommendations

regarding Land Use within the Meadowlands as:

• To encourage planned, controlled growth within

the Kearny Meadowlands.

The Town continues to support plans for industrial

and commercial development in the Meadowlands

provided:

1. Necessary roadway improvements are

constructed to accommodate additional traffic

volume generated by the development.

2. Necessary utility improvements are provided to

accommodate additional infrastllJ.cture.

3. Adequate open space is provided.

A great deal of activity has occurred within the

Meadowlands Area since the 1991 Report. In 2001,

the name of the State sanctioned administrative

agency was officially changed from the Hackensack

Meadowlands Development Commission (HMDC) to

the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC).

In ·1996, the Belleville Thrnpike Redevelopment Plan

was approved for the Area in the vicinity ofBarczewski

Street. The Plan proposes the construction of

infrastructure improvements in the forin of roadways

1~2002--------------------------------------------------------~

· and sewers to encourage the redevelopmem of the

Area as a regional warehouse-distribution center.

The improvements were completed in 2000 and new

development is currently taking place.

In 2000, the Commission adopted the Kearny

Area Redevelopment Plan for the redevelopment,

remediation and conservation of the former landfill

areas south of Belleville Twnpike and west of theN ew

Jersey Turnpike. Key economic features of the Plan

include the proposed construction of the Bergen

Avenue Extension between Schuyler Avenue and

Harrison Avenue, establishment of light industrial

activity in the vicinity of the Keegan landfill and new

large scale retail activity along Hani~on Avenue.

Key environmental features of the Plan include the

designation of the Kearny Freshwater Marsh as an

environmental conservation area for active and passive

recreation and proposed linkages of the Area to the

Meadows Path recreational trail. Planned Commercial

and light Industrial Areas within the Meadowlands were

designated as part of the KUEZ in 1998. The proposed

redevelopment of the Meadowlands is consistent with

the goals and recommendations of the 1991 Report.

General Land Use Recommendations

The following details the status of the 1991 Master Plan

Revision ·general zoning recommendations:

• New multi-family residential zone: The 1991

Master Plan Revision recommended that the

zoning ordinance be revised to include a multi­

family residential zone that would incorporate

the major multi-family housing developments in

the Town. 1bis new zone which was designated

R-4 would consist of four sections in the Town in

which large scale apartment style development has

occurred. The R-3 zone which currently permits

multi-family residential apartments was to be

revised to permit multi-family development in.

the form of converted homes containing three or

four units. According to the Master Plan off-street

parking should be incorporated into this district

wherever feasible. 1bis recommendation was not

implemented but continues to be an appropriate

land use proposal.

• Devon Street, Wilson Avenue and Davis Avenue:

The 1991 plan recommended that the area located

north of the Town of Harrison, east of Devon

. Street, south of Wilson Avenue and west of Davis

Avenue be rezoned from R-3 to· R-2. The area

contains a predominance of one and two family

homes and therefore the rezoning to R-2 would

reflect the existing development pattern. This

land use recommendation continues to be valid

and should.be implemented through rezoning.

• Chestnut Street, Liberty Street, Devon Street and

Garfield Avenue: The area bound by Chestnut

Street, Liberty Street, Devin Street and Garfield

Avenue is presently zoned R-2. However, it has

a pattern of development consistent with the

surrounding R-2 neighborhood and was proposed

to be rezoned to R-2 from R-3, This recommenda­

tion was not implemented but continues to be to

remain valid.

.. • South of Chestnut Street, Liberty Street, Devon

Street and Garfield Avenue: This area is presently

zoned R-3, however, exhibits the same land use

characteristics as the surrounding R-2 diStrict and

was recommended to be rezoned to R-2. This

recommendation has not been implemented but

continues to be a valid.

• NewarkandjerseyCityTumpike,commonlyknown

as Harrison Avenue: This corridor is currently

zoned M. Manufacturing and was recommended

to be rezoned to light industrial to increase the

redevelopment potential by encouraging office

research uses. This area was recently designated

a redevelopment area. Redevelopment will be

addressed through the Schuyler Avenue and

NJMC Kearny Area Redevelopment Plans of which

this area is a part.

• Public Use Zone: The 1991 Master Plan Revision

recommended the creation of a public use zone

that would include all Town OWned parkland ..

This recommendation was not implemented

but continues to remain an appropriate land use.

proposal.

The 1991 Report contained the following general

policy statement seeking to:

• maintain a consistent buffer between heavy

industrial and residential ·sections of the

community.

This goal has been addressed and expanded upon

by the Passaic and Schuyler Avenues Redevelopment

Plans, which seek to insulate the Town's Upland

residential neighborhoods by proposing the

relocation of existing heavy industrial activities away

from neighborhood areas. The Redevelopment

Plans in conjunction with the KUEZ Strategic Plan

seek to enhance the neighborhood character of the

Uplands by introducing new commercial, housing

and recreational activities in place of current heavy

industrial uses. The Plans recognize that heavier

industrial activities are more appropriately located

within South Kearny· and the Meadowlands, which

because of their geographic location are naturally

removed from surrounding residential areas.

Circulation Progress Report (1991-2002).

The 1991 Master Plan Revision established the

following General Policy Statements regarding

circulation:

• To maintain andimprove the street and circulation

system and provide access to all segments of the

Town, where feasible;

• · To relieve the congested parking situation along

Kearny Avenue, Midland Avenue and in ndghbor­

hood shopping Areas.

• To improve the safety of pedestrian and vehicular

traffic flows.·

• . To guide the location of regional highway facilities

to avoid negative impacts to residents and the local

economy.

The Revision also updated the status of following

circulation recommendations from the 1983 Master

Plan, many of which are relevant in light of recent

redevelopment planning:

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• The development of a new industrial collector

road parallel to the east of Schuyler Avenue,

extending from Bergen Avenue to northward of

Gunnel Oval.

This recommendation has been incorporated into the

_Schuyler Avenue Redevelopment Plan as an interior

service road between Schuyler Avenue and Bergen

Avenue. Access to Schuyler Avenue 'has yet to be

determined.

• The continuation of Bergen Avenue eastward (as

a local service street, but avoid heavy commercial

traffic or connection to regional highways.)

This recommendation has been addressed through the

planned construction of the Bergen Avenue Extension.

The inclusion of large districts of light industrial

activities within the Meadowlands and Schuyler Avenue

Redevelopment Areas however, dictates that the Areas

should be connected to the regional highway network

along Harrison Avenue. This action is consistent with

the goal of insulating residential neigborhoods from

industrial activities, including heavy truck traffic:

• Schuyler Avenue to revert to local collector with

no widening.

This will be made possible by the construction of the

Bergen Avenue Extension and the construction of new

interior drives in the Schuyler Area, which will provide

a diversion for truck traffic.

• The Town solicit funding assistance to Reconstruct

Harrison Avenue and widen the arterial to four

lanes between its intersection with ~elleville

Turnpike and Interstate 280.

This recommendation has been implemented.

• The Town should also solicit funding assistance to

install a manualS-way light to regulate egress from

Gunnel Oval following major sporting events.

This recommendation has been modified and included

in the Schuyler Avenue Redevelopment Plan as part

of proposed circulation improvements.

• Pursue an off street parking study on Kearny

Avenue, Midland Avenue and in neighborhood

shopping areas to investigate possible methods

of relieving congested parking conditions.

A parking study was conducted in '1997. The plan

recommended a variety of techniques to address

parking issues in Uplands commercial areas. These

techniques included adding .meters, adjusting meter

times and increasing meter fees. While meter fees have

been increased in areas of Kearny Avenue, which have

undergone streetscape improvements, other parking

study recommendations have not been implemented.

It is recommended that the study be updated and the

finding be reevaluated.

• Traffic generated by employment, truck deliveries,

and shopping activities should be served by the

major circulation corridors, and non-local traffic

in residential areas should be discouraged where

possible.

This recommendation has· been incorporated as a

central goal in. the Schuyler Avenue, Passaic Avenue,

and KUEZ Strategic Revitalization Plans.

• The Town should guard against over-intensivifa­

cation of areas already impacted by high traffic

volumes. Where heavy traffic volumes isolate and

discourage the use of parks (such as along Passaic

Avenue), the construction of pedestrian overpasses

should be considered.

_The essence of this recommendation, encouraging

pedestrian activity and enhancing the pedestrian

environment is one of the core goals of the Schuyler

Avenue, Passaic Avenue, and KUEZ Strategic

Revitalization Plans. Pedestrian access across busy

streets has been addressed through the addition of

general streetscape improvements, which incorporate

traffic calming measures. These measures include new

lights, crosswalks and signage.

• The Town should consider soliciting funding

assistance to construct pedestrian underpasses

beneath the railroad to link Gunnel oval with

the proposed bikeway/pedestrian connector to

DeKorte State Park.

The Schuyler Avenue Plan calls for establishing linkages

to the Meadowlands recreation_system. The nature of

the connections have yet to be determined. ·

• Investigate alternative alignments ofRoute 17 from

Route 3 to I-280 .

The extension of Route 17 has been proposed for

a number of years. To date, no definitive alignment

has been deternrined. Any future alignment should

consider the existing environmental conditions and

be coordinated with the Redevelopment and Strategic

PI~ of the Town of Kearny and NJMC.

Utilities and Community Facilities

The Town of Kearny purchases 12 million gallons of

water daily from the Northern Jersey District Water

Supply Commission. The Town's water needs are

approximately 6 million gallons a day. Until 2001,

the Town had a contract with the East Orange Water

Commission to operate and manage the municipal

water utility. In early 2001, the Town negotiated a

settlement to sever its contract with East Orange. The

Town has created a municipal water department, which

will continue to provide repairs and maintenance of

water mains and fire hydrants. The Town will also

continue to purchase its water from the North jersey

District Water Supply Commission, and also expects

to broker its excess water to other communities to

generate additional revenue. Meter reading, billing,

collection and customer service for the Town's water

system are being addressed through a three-year

contract with United Water.

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Communi~ Policing

The Town has experienced changes in the composition

and nature of its Police Department since 1991.

The tota:l number of officers in 1994 was 101. The

Department is currently up to 118 sworn members,

including recruits currently in the Police Academy.

The Department has also increased its presence

throughout the community by instituting regular

bicycle patrols and establishing a 24-hour sub station

at the intersection ofBelgrove Avenue and Grant Street

and in the South Kearny Area. Both Sub Stations were

funded by the KUEZ.

Passaic River Boat lAunch· (: The Town is continuing to ensure public access to the

Passaic River through the upgrade of the boat launch in

the vicinity of Passaic Avenue and Bergen Avenue. The

launch area provides both access and parking and is

located within a public park. The Town is investigating

minor upgrades to the facility. It is anticipated that

it will serve as a recreational feature of the planned

Passaic Avenue Redevelopment efforts.

C. Significant Changes Impacting the Master Plan .

S incetheTownadoptedits 1991 Reexamination

Report, there have been significant changes

~at the lo~al, state and county level affecting .

the assumptions, policies and objectives forming the

basis of the Master Plan. At the state and county level, a

number of new laws, programs and planning initiatives

have been adopted, which provide new technical

and financial resources for the revitalization of New

Jersey's towns and cities. Many of these programs and

legislative initiatives have had a positive impact upon

the Town and complement the Town's redevelopment

efforts. These include the following:

Changes at the Local Level

Population and Demographic Changes

The Town of Kearny has experienced a number of

significant changes in its population and demographic

characteristics since the adoption of the 1991 Maste~

Plan Revision. These changes include the following:

Population. Kearny's population is growing. According

to the 2000 US Census; the Town's population has

increased by 19.5% per.cent since 1990, or a total

of 6,6~9 persons. On face value, this increase is

significant, but may be misleading. The 2000 Census

includes the population of the County prison in South

Kearny, that was not included in the 1990 census. Actual

Town population growth, not including the prison

population has likely remained steady, with modest

uicreases due to infill. As redevelopment efforts

continue and new housing is built, it is anticipated

that the Town's population will continue to increase.

In general, K!!arny has experienced economic stability

characterized by low unemployment and service sector

growth since the peak recession year of 1992. Not only

is Kearny experiencing its lowest unemployment rate

in a decade, but the Town's 4.0 percent unemployment

rate is lower than the County's unemployment rate of

5. 7 percent.

Private Sector Employment, 1993· 1998 Town of Kearny

Number ol Employees 1993 1998

Agriculture 0 30

Construction 826 460

Monufoduring 3,295 3,286

Trons., Comm, Ut. 3,768 3,953

Wholesale Trade 1,577 1,760

Retail Trade 1,807 1,793

FIRE -564 410

Services 3,021 4,054

Total 14,856 15,926

Good-Producing Sedor 4,121 3,956

Service-Producing Sectar 10,735 11,970

Sou·rce: N1 Department of Labor

Industries are broken down into two sectors, the

goods-producing sector and the service-producing

sector. Manufacturing is part of the goods-producing

sector of the economy. The employment trends in

Kearny and Hudson County are moving away from

the goods-producing sector and toward the service­

producing sector. The service-producing sector

July2002---------------------------'--~

includes: transportation, communications and utilities;

wholesale trade; retail trade; finance, insurance and

real estate (FIRE); and ~ervices.

The Town of Kearriy experienced an overall increase

in employment in the service-producing sector from

10,735 to 11,970 during the 1993-1998 period. This

trend is expected to continue as the Town's economy

continues to transition toward wholesale trade and

service based activities.

Kearny Urban Enl:erJrrise Zone

The most significant changes impacting both

the Town's long-range planning and immediate

revitalization efforts have resulted from the efforts

of the Kearny Urban EnterpriSe Zone. The KUEZ

has developed long-range redevelopment plans

for the Schuyler Avenue and Passaic Avenue Areas

as components of its Strategic ReVitalization Plan.

These plans will dramatically change the land use

pattern for these areas by introducing new economic,

residential and recreational opportunities to former

industrial Areas.

Changes at the County Level

Hudson County has eXperienced significant economic

growth within the past decade, with the vast majority of

growth occurring along the 'Gold Coast' of the Hudson

River. According to the Hudson County Strategic Plan

Hudson County has entered a period, of sustained

growth, which will result in large employment gains.

Future development activity is_ expected to produce

over 23,000 new dwelling units and 17.4 million square

feet of industrial space. It is expected that the Town

of Kearny will share in this growth.

In response to recent. physical, economic and

demographic changes, Hudson County has initiated

two significant planning efforts consisting of the 1999

Hudson CoUnty StmtegicR.evitali.zationPlan and the 2001

Hudson County Master Plan. These two documents

build upon the designation of the Hudson County

Urban Complex, which recognizes the functional

integration of the County's twelve municipalities and

the corresponding need for integrated planning.

The two documents are complementary efforts and

together provide a comprehensive framework for

coordinated county and inter municipal planning

leading towards County-wide revitalization.

Hudson County Master Plan

The 2001 Master Plan provides a technical analysis

of existing conditions and issues facing Hudson

County. The Master Plan includes nine separate

elements including a Land Use Plan, Circulation Plan,

Economic Plan, Housing Plan, Community Facilities

Plan, Utilities Plan, Social Services Plan, Conse~tion

Plan and Historic Preservation Plan.

The Hudson County Master Plan has the following

five core goals:

•

•

•

•

To improve the overall quality of life in Hudson

County.

To provide for the economic revitalization of the

C~unty's commercial and industrial base.

To preserve the character of existing· well­

established neighborho~ds.

To improve the transportation network.

• To increase the Tax base.

Hudson County Strategic Revitalization Plan

The 1999 Hudson County Strategic Revitalization Plo.n

complements the Master Plan and establishes a vision

and identifies the specific action strategies, which are

necessary to achieve County-wide revitalization. The

Strategic Revitalization Plan proposes a three-tired

approach and integrates economic development, labor

force and quality of life issues together.

Changes at the State Level

The State Development and &development Plan

The New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment

Plan was readopted on March 1, 2001. The Plan was

prepared through a cross-acceptance process that

compared ~e planning policies among various

government levels with the purpose of attaining

compatibility among Municipal, County and State

Plaris. Hudson County has taken a unique approach

to the SDRP by being designated an Urban Complex.

The Urban Complex designation recognizes Hudson

County's highly urbanized and integrated character

and provides the opportunity to implement the

SDRP on a County-wide basis. The SDRP emphasizes

center-oriented development patterns to create

'Communities of Place.'

As part of the County's second cross acceptance

process, a report was completed and adopted in

May 1988. The report assesses the County's present

situation and provides for a comparison with 1991

issues. The report established an umber of significant

issues important to the health, safety, welfare and

quality of life for Hudson County residents.

Council on Affordable Housing (COAH)

Under the Fair Housing Act and COAH Regulations,

each municipality has a fair share affordable housing

obligation. The Town of Kearny adopted a Housing

element Fair share Plan in 1989 in order to address its

affordable housing obligation. Due to the continuing·

need for affordable senior housing an affordable senior

housing development has recently been proposed off

of Schuyler Avenue. The Schuyler Avenue and Passaic

Avenue Redevelopment Plans also contairi districts to

provide for anticipated senior housing needs

Telecommunications Facilities

The siting of telecommunications facilities has become

a significant land use issue. It is recommended that the

Town consider adopting an ordinance which regulates

their locations and establish standards consistent with

Federal and State regulations and law.

Jruy2002--------------------------------~------------------~~

Group Homes

In January of 1998 the Municipal Land Use Law was

amended to address group homes in residential

neighborhoods. NJ.S.A. 40:55D-66.1 states that

"community residences for the developmentally

disabled community shelters for victims of domestic

violence, community residence for the terminally

ill and community residence for persons with head

injuries, shall be a permitted use in all residential

districts of a municipality, and the requirements

therefore shall be the same as for single-family dwelling

units located within such distrlcts." This change should

be incorporated into the revised Land Development

Ordinance.

Residential Site Improvement Standards

The Residential Site Improvement Standards (RSIS)

were adopted in January 1997 and govern any site

improvements carried out in connection with a

residential development application. According

to the Statute, the RSIS are intended to create

uniform guidelines and ensure predictability. The

rules supersede municipal standards for residential

development. The rules took effect June 3, 1997.

It is recommended that the Town join with other

municipalities in the County as recommended under

the County Strategic Plan and request a Special Area

Waiver to amend the Land Development Ordinance

requirements of the RSIS.

·Montclair Connection

The Montclair Connection consists of the electrification

and construction of a rail link between NJT's Boonton

and Montclair Branch Lines. The project will create

high-speed rail service for western Essex County

communities, but will result in the elimination of

rail service through Hudson County on the Boonton

Branch and the subsequent closure of Ar1ignton

Station in Kearny. Approximately sixty passengers

utilize the station on a daily basis. It is recommended

that alternative commuter rail service options be

pursued with New Jersey Transit.

D. Recommended Changes for the Town's Master Plan and land Development Regulatious

K earny haS recently undergone a series of

significant planning efforts by both the

KUEZ and NJMC, which has resulted in

redevelopment plans for the Passaic Avenue, Schuyler

Avenue, Belleville Turnpike and Meadowlands Areas ·

as well as a Strategic Revitalization Plan for the Urban

Enterprise Zone. Additionally, South Kearny is currently

in the midst of potentially significant changes resulting

from regional planning efforts and changes including

the break up of Conrail into Norfolk Southern and

CSX, the expansion of the Northern New Jersey-New

York City port system and the Partway Project. These

plans and events will fundamentally alter the land

use, circulation, housing, economic, open space and

recreational patterns of the Town while opening up

large tracts of land for new uses and activities.

The redevelopment of the Meadowlands Area, while

under the jurisdiction of the NJMC, will dramatically --impact surrounding land uses and open up thousands

I 1 of acres of previously underutilized land within Town

for more productive economic and recreational use.

The establishment of new economic activities and

transportation. improvements combined with the

environmental remediation of the Kearny Marsh will ~

\ significantly change the overall land use pattern of the

Town by connecting the Uplands with South Kearny

and creating a completely new activity center.

The redevelopment and remediation of the

Meadowlands will most directly impact the Schuyler

Avenue Are·a, creating new economic, housing,

commercial recreational and light industrial

opportunities that are contained within the

redevelopment Plan.

The Passaic Avenue Redevelopment Plan will further

expand the residential and neighborhood commercial

areas of the Uplands to the Passaic River. Additionally,

the Passiac Avenue Plan will create new recreational

opportunities by establishing public access to the

Passaic waterfront.

As a result of KUEZ planning efforts, the Town's

upland commercial core, centered along Kearny

Avenue, is being revitalized with new businesses

and improvements. These efforts may lead to the

establishment of increasing smaller-scale mixed-uses

replacing larger exclusively commercial activities.

While the Strategic Revitalization Plan provides

comprehensive economic framework for the

revitalization of the Town's commercial and industrial

sectors the redevelopment plans and action strategies

also create new housing, recreational and open space

opportunities.

The sum of these new opportunities results in a

fundamental restructuring of the Town land use pattern

and correspondingly impacts almost every element of

Jmy~02----------~------------------------------------------~

the Master Plan. It is therefore recommended that to

fully capitalize upon these significant planning efforts

tJ:e Tom1 consolidate these separate planning analyses

and policies into a single, comprehensive document

and prepare a new Master Plan for the 21st century.

A new Master Plan presents the Town "with the

opportunity to address,recent and potential change

by establishing a comprehensive vision for the future

that for the first time integrates the Uplands, the

Meadowlands and South Kearny under a single plan.

A new Master Plan will allow the Town to prepare a

new base map indicating the limits of the entire Town

and reflecting the zoning and circulation changes

resulting from recent redevelopment efforts and the

Partway Project The current municipal maps were last

amended in 1965 and separately depict the Uplands

and South Kearny, while ignoring the Meadowlands

altogether.

A new Master Plan will allow the Town to update its

Housing Plan to accurately reflect changes to both the

1990 and 2000 Census and to address the resulting

demographic changes, which include an increased

need for senior housing. ·

open space

The Town has an extensive open space system along

the Passaic River north of Bergen avenue and west

of Passaic Avenue to the municipal boundary with

the Borough of North Arlington. There are however

a number of outparcels that are privately owned or

developed. It is recommende:d that the Town consider

purchasing these out-parcels and incorporate them

into the existing park and open space system. It is also

recommended that a continuous waterfront walkway

be established along the Passaic river that connects the

existing Park system with the Redevelopment Area.

One of the Recommendations in the Schuyler

Avenue Redevelopment Plan is the creation of a

linear greenway system connecting Town, County and

Meadowlands open space and recreation areas utilizing

the existing rail right of way that serves as the NJMC

District boundary. This recommendation is consistent

with the NJMC recreation and open space Plan and

improvements should be coordinated between the

Town and NJMC.

In order to create a comprehensive open space

and recreation network it is recommended that a

comprehensive open space plan be prepared, which

is consistent with the NJDEP regulations. This will

enable the Town to tap into State Green Acres funding

sources.

Senior Hou.sing

The Town has responded to the increased need for

affordable Senior Housing. Developers were ~elicited

for the redevelopment of a former industrial site

along Schuyler Avenue. A developer was chosen who

proposes to create approximately 40 affordable Senior

units.

Land Development Regulations

The Town Planning Board completed a comprehensive

review ofT own Development Regulations in 1997. This

resulted in a number of recommended changes and

a revised zoning map. The Town adopted the South

Kearny zoning changes in 1999*. The zoning changes

were subsequentially invalidated on procedural

grounds. It is recommended that the Council review

the 1997 changes as well as the recommended changes

to South Kearny and other changes contained within

this Reexamination report

* The 1991 Master Plan ReviiiD'T! and this both recommended

m.D'Tiing South Kearny into two distinct districts. The plans differ

D'TI the location of the proposed wning boundary and the names of

the districts. For clarity, this report designates the two umes South

.Kearny M~nufacturing North and South .Kearny Manufacturing

South instead of South Kearny Manufacturing 1 &2

Jmy2002------------------------------------------------------11

E. Recommendatious of the Planning Board Conceroing the Incorporation of Redevelopment Pbms into the Land Use Element of the Master Plan

S ince 1991 the Town has adopted the Passaic

,~')Avenue Redevelopment Plan in October of

~ 2001. The Schuyler Avenue Redevelopment

Plan was recently adopted by the Town Council.

Finally, the Belleville Turnpike Redevelopment

Plan and the Kearny Area Redevelopment Plan were

adopted by NJMC in 1996 and 2000 respectively. The ·

Redevelopment Areas should be delineated on the

Kearny Zoning Map.

It is recommended that the South Kearny Area be

reviewed as a potential Area in need of rehabilitation.

This potential designation will assist the Town in its

economic revitalization efforts.

Newark Waterfront Page 1 of2 ·

home I abouJ. tJ'Ie pro5;~ I site.~ontext I d~lgn 8t plannlnQJo:Y_ork I cas~ st!J~ti..~ 1 wh"-t n,akes a_ great .w:~t~ront

new:

March 4 Placemakln_g Workshop Res!JitS

also:

Jan 13 Placemaklng Workshop Results

key participants and stakeholders:

Abutters and Neighbors:

N~. Jersey Performing Arts Q;!JJter General Services Administration I Federal Bureau gf Jnvestlgatlon Matrix Development Group Newark Real Estate Board Public Service Electric & G<!S Company Rutgers - Newark Seabra Group Ironbound COmmunity Corporation

Agencies:

New Jersey Department of Transportation · <;:lty of Newark Federal Highway Administration U.S. Arrriy Corps of Engln~rs New Jersey Transit New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection New Jersey_ Ecoi]Qmlc Deyelopment Authority

Consultants:

Edwards a~ Kelcey, Inc. P.ro!ect for Public Spaces, Inc. Connection-Newark \{ql1rijer Associates, LLP J>ctul Segal Associates, ..;rchlteqs

New Jersey Department of Transportation Newark Waterfront Community Access Study

The Newark Waterfront Community Access Study (NWCAS) is a Public Outreach Program being implemented by the New Jersey Department of Transportation to determine pedestrian access links from Downtown Newark to the Passaic Riverfront park across McCarter Highway (Route 21), which is currently being widened and realigned, from Raymond Boulevard to Bridge Street in Newark's central business district.

Over the past several years, in consultation with the CitY of Newark, the engineering firm of Edwards and Kelcey, Inc. of Morristown, NJ has designed and prepared construction plans for a length of Route 21 that includes this segment. In the spring of 2002, a construction contract for this portion of the highway was awarded, with construction work beginning this past summer.

While the Route 21 widening is under construction, NJDOT is working to build consensus among local stakeholders for ' provisions along the highway to enhance pedestrian access. As a result of further consultation in 2002 between NJDOT and the City of Newark, chqnges of plans have already been implemented to mod·ify turning lane provisions at Raymond Boulevard and Lombardy Street to enhance pedestrian movement at these intersections.

Currently, at the Center Street intersection, both at-grade and grade-separated solutions are being explored. Edwards and Kelcey is heading a public outreach team for NJDOT that includes Project for Public Spaces, Inc., a NYC-based organization that specializes in creating ·successful urban places; Vollmer Associates, who have supplieq landscape· design elements to the Route 21 widening project, and Connection-Newark. As the result of numerous meetings with the City of Newark and local stakeholders, this team of consultants has investigated numerous design alternatives for the Center Street/Route 21 intersection. Several concepts have been developed to enhance the at-grade pedestrian crossing, and a number of designs for a pedestrian overpass have been sketched as well.

On December 2, 2002, NJDOT gathered a group of City of Newark officials, state agency representatives, and local stakeholders at Newark City Hall to explore various funding sources, align project objectives, and solidify next steps. At this and a subsequent meeting it was determined that prior to agreeing upon and designing a crossing solution or solutions to be built by NJDOT at

http://www. pps.orglnewark/process.htm

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4/16/2007 .

Newark Waterfront

c;Jar~e, .~a~gn, HJ11tz J;hrenkranz, Ec_k~ut & Kt,~))n Louis Berger Group, Inc. URS/BRW

© 2003 Project for Public Spaces

this location, uses of the space and programming of activities on either side of McCarter Highway need to be determined by a

. cross-section of stakeholders, neighbors, and the general public, with input from various agencies. Taking a Context-Sensitive approach to this i]lnovative transportation project, NJDOT is committed to the belief that the right solution will emerge only after efforts are made to consider the ideas and needs of those who will be regular users of the facility.

On January 13, 2003, NJDOT and the City of Newark gathered a committee of local stakeholders together with a broad array of public agency representatives and consultants to participate in a Placemaking charrette. The intent of this exercise is to begin creating a collective vision for Newark's waterfront among the entities most closely associated with it.

On December 2, 2003 a public meeting was held for the purpose of presenting the vision that has emerged from this collaboration to all stakeholders and obtain feedback on the concept that has been developed thus far.

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4/16/2007