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Newark Council adopts 2024 thoroughfare plan after resident raises frontage concerns
Summary
The Newark City Council voted 10-0 to adopt Ordinance 24-51, the 2024 thoroughfare plan and related zoning code amendments, following a resident's public comment urging engineers and council to consider impacts on properties with limited frontage.
The Newark City Council on Tuesday voted 10-0 to adopt Ordinance 24-51, approving the 2024 City of Newark thoroughfare plan and amendments to Part 12 of the Newark Codified Ordinances (planning and zoning code).
The ordinance, introduced with a public hearing, drew one public commenter, Chris Williams of 743 Larkspur Drive, who said he was surprised by how many streets in the published plan were labeled as minor collectors and urged council and engineers to review potential impacts on properties that lack sufficient frontage. "I would respectfully ask that that council and that the engineers look closely before they start, deciding that some properties are gonna have to have houses moved, or they're going to have to move," Williams said.
The ordinance's supporters noted the planning commission recommended passage. A councilmember encouraging adoption said the document is a policy-level plan and that engineers and council would need to examine impacts in detail before taking actions that would affect private property. "I don't think this document is meant to be for them to do all these things without really, you know, diving in the impact and examining those," the councilmember said.
Council opened the required public hearing, heard Williams' comment, and then moved to adopt the ordinance. Councilmember Hauser made the motion to adopt Ordinance 24-51 and Councilmember Barker seconded. The clerk called the roll and the ordinance passed 10-0.
Why it matters: The thoroughfare plan classifies streets and guides future public-right-of-way decisions and capital work. Residents who live on streets designated as collectors or minor collectors may face property or frontage considerations as projects move from plan to design and construction. Council members repeatedly said engineers and staff will need to analyze specific impacts before any property changes occur.
Council indicated there will be additional review as the plan is implemented and that detailed project-level decisions will follow later design and community engagement steps.
