Peter Travers

This Smart Growth Plan serves as a long-term guide and policy document for the Township of South Orange Village, aiming to enhance its status as a model 'smart growth community.' The plan focuses on capitalizing on the Village's strengths by improving connections between amenities and surrounding communities, with a vision to be recognized as a desirable community by 2030 through a thriving business district, preserved historic character, and high quality of life. Key components include goals and objectives for community character, circulation, parks, open space, and recreation, along with strategic implementation and funding plans.

The Strategic Action Plan for South Orange outlines an implementation framework for the Smart Growth Plan, establishing action strategies across several key areas. The plan focuses on enhancing community character through historic preservation, urban design, zoning, and business district development. It also addresses circulation improvements, including bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure, parking management, and vehicular traffic. Furthermore, it details strategies for parks and open space, and includes a funding plan to support these initiatives, categorizing actions into short-term, mid-term, and long-term timelines.

This document, titled "Evaluation of Existing Conditions" within the South Orange Smart Growth Plan, provides a comprehensive analysis of the Village's current and projected conditions. It details historical and forecasted population growth, housing characteristics, employment trends, and transportation infrastructure. Additionally, it inventories open spaces, parks, and recreational facilities, and identifies significant historic resources and environmental considerations, serving as a foundational assessment for future growth planning.

This document, the 'South Orange Smart Growth Plan,' identifies key planning issues and community input for the Village of South Orange. It addresses coordination with state, regional, and adjacent municipal plans, aligning with objectives such as the State Development and Redevelopment Plan (SDRP) for Metropolitan Planning Area (PA1). Key focus areas include revitalizing the Central Business District, Valley Street, and Irvington Avenue business areas, improving parking, vehicular traffic, and walking/biking/transit options, enhancing parks, open space, and recreation facilities, and preserving community character. The plan aims to foster economic development, improve infrastructure, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents by leveraging assets and addressing identified weaknesses.

This Smart Growth Plan for South Orange integrates and builds upon existing plans for circulation, recreation, and open space. It addresses concerns related to bicycle and pedestrian safety, parking availability, and vehicular traffic, advocating for complete studies and improvements in these areas. The plan also focuses on preserving open space, enhancing recreational facilities, and comprehensively addressing capital improvement needs for community facilities, including the Village Hall and Police Headquarters, by resolving deferred maintenance.