Highland Park council lays out 2025 goals: redevelopment, Main Street support, river trail and infrastructure among priorities

Highland Park council members and the mayor mapped out 2025 goals at a work session, identifying short-term (by June 30) and longer-term (by Dec. 31) targets across economic development, parks, utilities, public works and social services. The session produced committee commitments to advance redevelopment planning, boost Main Street and business outreach, pursue river-trail partnerships, and examine staffing and capital needs.

Mayor Foster opened the goals-and-priorities discussion by asking each committee to list achievable midyear targets and longer-range items. “We are looking at what it is that we wanna accomplish in the next 9 months,” Foster said, framing the session as a way to produce check-off items that would guide administrative work and budget priorities.

Economic development and redevelopment topped the agenda. Council members set two milestone dates: June 30 for preparatory work (selecting consultants, forming stakeholder committees, assembling outreach materials) and Dec. 31 for activity tied to implementation and public hearings where projects advance. Priorities described in the discussion included:

- Track C / South Third / Third Avenue redevelopment: Identify and hire a third‑street consultant in partnership with borough staff, form a stakeholder committee, complete initial plans and public‑hearing scheduling by June 30, and undertake business outreach and event planning through the year. Council members discussed using Placer AI and other tools to track retail impacts and to create concise informational materials for prospective and existing businesses.

- Upper Raritan and Cleveland Avenue redevelopment concepts: Compile lists of nearby residents and stakeholders to be notified; hold neighborhood meetings if projects are proposed; prepare draft redevelopment concepts for staff and the planning board to review.

- Woodbridge Avenue MPP (Main Street) program: Continue business-facade grants; expand the MPP district stakeholder committee; plan Woodbridge Avenue programming and a car show; conduct outreach for porch grants and other resident-targeted programs; and pursue branding and small placemaking projects for the corridor.

Public-works and parks items included examining DPW staffing and downtown maintenance (council members discussed adding dedicated personnel or contractors to improve downtown cleanliness and sidewalk maintenance), proceeding with river‑trail follow-up meetings with the county and state, and developing a strategic plan for Molly McGiff (park name as discussed) including prioritization and potential camera discussions. The council asked staff and the river-trail consultant team to meet with the river-trail committee and convene county/state partners before the end of the year; the group set a June 30 checkpoint to review the consultant's survey work and recommend next steps.

Utilities and infrastructure were flagged as ongoing priorities: the council directed work on a capital plan for water and sewer improvements, urged coordination of utility work under plazas and redevelopment sites to avoid repeated street disruption, and discussed pursuing grant funding for EV charging and other infrastructure needs.

Housing and human services items included advancing an affordable‑housing plan due this year and working through the borough’s affordable housing corporation as an advisory resource. Council members discussed accessory dwelling units (ADUs) as one possible tool for creditable affordable units, noting deed restrictions would be required for ADUs to count toward affordable‑housing obligations.

The council also reviewed arts, parks and community programming goals: Main Street outreach and possible market‑day incentives to tie farmers-market foot traffic back to brick‑and‑mortar businesses; a proposed ‘‘passport’’ or restaurant‑sampling program to boost local dining; plans for a car show and for enhanced public‑space programming; and discussions about an amphitheater or splash‑park concepts in Donaldson Park as longer‑term capital projects.

Public‑safety and municipal services items raised for budget consideration included anticipated requests for an additional full‑time firefighter position and ordinance updates to reflect the borough’s career fire chief. Members said staffing discussions are likely to surface during forthcoming budget deliberations.

Council members asked staff to fold the goals into an administratively drafted priorities document, circulate it for comment, and return with more detailed budgets and timelines. No formal votes or final adoptions of goals were recorded at the session; the meeting functioned as a goal‑setting workshop to inform later ordinances and budget requests.