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Planner outlines master‑plan reexamination, urges town‑center focus
Summary
At a Planning Board workshop, the borough’s planner reviewed the master‑plan reexamination, saying the town must adopt by November to preserve zoning protections and recommending a strengthened town‑center mixed‑use strategy and targeted ordinance changes.
The borough’s master‑plan reexamination was presented as a legal and practical update by the planner, who reminded the board that state municipal law requires a reexamination at least every 10 years and warned of a “rebuttable presumption” that can affect local zoning if the review is not completed. "Master plan is a policy document that guides decision making," the presenter said, adding that adoption by November is needed to maintain compliance.
The presenter identified three core findings: broad stability across most of the borough, constrained buildable land, and a policy imperative to concentrate new growth in a town‑center overlay while protecting established residential neighborhoods. He urged the board to use the reexamination to clarify lot lines, setbacks and design standards, and to translate key recommendations into ordinance amendments so the master plan remains an active implementation tool. "Once you do that, it doesn't mean that you can't reexamine it the next day," he said, noting smaller amendments and targeted code changes can follow adoption. The board discussed timeline and agreed to solicit comments for consolidation in advance of the advertised public hearing.
