Together 202: Reimagining Complete
Communities along a Connecting Corridor
Final Presentation
May 20, 2013
Section title
Subtitle
Together North Jersey
What is Together North Jersey?
• A planning initiative in the 13county NJTPA region of New
Jersey
• In Nov 2011, US HUD awarded
TNJ a $5 million grant to develop a
Regional Plan for Sustainable
Development (RPSD)
• Comprehensive and balanced plan
will invest in the region’s existing
communities where housing, jobs,
educational, cultural, and
recreational opportunities are
made more easily accessible to
most residents without having to
drive to them
Local Demonstration Projects
What are Local Demonstration Projects?
• Provide technical assistance to
local partners throughout Northern
NJ to undertake strategic planning
activities promoting sustainable
and livable, transit-oriented
development and advance the
broader goals of the RPSD
• Potential LDP projects include a
variety of local planning activities
to make transit corridors and
communities more livable
Study Area
Project Team & Partners
-
Project Team:
• Regional Plan Association
• The Williams Group
• NJ Transit
• NJTPA
-
Project Partners:
• Somerset County
• NORWESCAP
• Somerset County Business
Partnership
• Hunterdon County Chamber of
Commerce
• Raritan Valley Community College
• HART TMA
• Ridewise TMA
• Flemington Borough
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Trans Bridge
Hunterdon County
Bridgewater Township
Somerville Borough
Raritan Borough
Branchburg Township
Readington Township
Raritan Township
Project Objectives
This project proposes to:
1. Foster a working and collaborative network
2. Develop a deep understanding of the Route 202
Corridor
3. Develop a local-driven vision for the corridor
Stakeholder-Identified Goals
Getting Places
Expanding Economic
Opportunities
Connect workers, residents and
employees to key employment and
commercial destinations through
enhanced transit
Make recommendations for existing
businesses to capitalize on
transit/corridor improvements
Stakeholder-Identified Goals
Growing in Place
Working Together
Identify target opportunity sites for
redevelopment, reinvention or
repositioning
Work closely with state agencies to
implement recommendations
Stakeholder-Identified Goals
Keeping Healthy, Safe &
Vibrant
Find ways to improve connectivity
along the corridor
Project Scope
Phase I: Research & Analysis – Where are we now? Where are we
headed?
• Review of Master Plans, Studies and Reports
• Demographic/economic profiles
• Corridor Tour
Phase II: Outreach & Ideas - Where do we want to go?
• Focus Groups (Mayors, Transportation, Business)
• Community Workshops
Phase III: Implementation Strategies - How do we get there?
• Corridor Vision Plan
WHERE ARE WE NOW?
WHERE ARE WE HEADED?
Demographics Analysis
•
Population in seven municipalities is
growing and will continue to grow
through 2035
•
In general, poverty rates are lower in
the seven municipalities than in the
region
•
A larger share of borough residents
than township residents are burdened
by housing costs
•
The boroughs are more likely to have
multifamily and rental housing options
•
Level of educational attainment in the
seven municipalities either compares to
or exceeds levels in the region
Economics Analysis
•
The corridor contains strong tourism
and natural amenities
•
There is a highly educated white collar
workforce
•
Existing industry clusters along the
corridor include pharmaceuticals,
environmental, life sciences and
healthcare
•
Young professionals and empty-nesters
are the fastest growing groups, but
demand for housing is not met
•
Retail is $133M in oversupply, though
general merchandise and office is
undersupplied
Route 202 Score Card of Attracting Business and Supporting Transit
Category # Category Description
1
2
Downtown growth to support transit and
business success
Score ( 5 best, 1
lowest
attributes for
Success)
Commentary
This has great possibilities as long as zoning to encourage empty nester
Health, environment and energy business
sectors as growth opportunities
is encourages. More housing supports more businesses and
5 housing
creates efficient transit densities
existing clusters in place but more needs to be done to incentives
5 Some
businesses including zoning and transit connections
3
Positive image and business attraction with
linked trail system trough businesses along
corridor
and transit need to work together through park and rides,
1 Businesses
stops and shuttles
4
Incentives for businesses to embrace transit
with green ribbon awards, taxes breaks and
corporate support
is very possible and attractive for corporate marketing but the
2 This
process needs to get started
Demographic growth by keeping older baby
boomers in downtown with targeted housing
5
6
7
8
9
10
5
Graduating college professionals with
downtown housing and amenities
Downtown densities to support transit
Convenient intermodal connections
Existing transit opportunities with park and
rides, stops, assets
Infill development to focus on business
clustering rather than sprawl
Total Score
Total Maximum score Possible
The potential is very strong here as long as incentives are included to
encourage downtown multifamily mixed use housing to provide a
product for young college graduates looking o live in a more urban
environment and aging baby boomers looking to sell their large houses
north and south of route 202 but stay in the same area--independent
senior housing is positive for growth
This can be harnessed and will supply the business workforce but
housing needs to be encouraged in the neighboring
2 targeted
downtowns
3 More, more density
more park and rides at shopping areas, business and large density
4 Add
residential
is existing but more corporation rom business is required to
1 Structure
make it work
of opportunity around Old York Road, downtowns and existing
3 Areas
business campuses
31
50
Transportation
•
Transit service in the area is limited to
the county TMAs, NJ Transit’s Raritan
Valley Line, and Trans Bridge
•
In the townships, approximately 70% or
greater of households have at least two
vehicles
•
A high share of resident workers get to
work in single-occupancy vehicles
Key Meetings
•
•
•
•
•
Steering Committee Meetings
Two Public Workshops
Transportation Round Table
Business Round Table
Mayors Meeting
Key Problems and Challenges
Limited transit options and single
occupancy vehicles lead to
congestion
Land uses are disconnected
Key Problems and Challenges
There is an oversupply of retail
along the corridor
Businesses want to be in wellconnected places
APPROACH: 5 LAND TYPES
APPROACH: 5 LAND TYPES
centers
edges
crossroads
rural
parkway
WHERE DO WE WANT TO GO?
HOW DO WE GET THERE?
KEY FINDINGS
CENTERS
THE ROAD MAP
Economic/Market
CENTERS
1. Downtown retail to
complement multi-family
residential
2. TOD mixed-use to meet
empty-nester/recent grad
demand
THE ROAD MAP
Land Use
Actors
Actions:
Short term
CENTERS
Long term
Infill residential and mixed-use
development
Open a downtown satellite campus of
RVCC
Ensure locally produced foods from
nearby farms in downtown restaurants
Open a downtown satellite health clinic
of nearby hospitals
Open a downtown "black box" theater
Develop design guidelines for study
areas; Implement TOD/TND zoning;
Work with owners to reposition
Liberty Village
Identify redevelopment areas and
implement area-specific plans;
Integrate new mixed-use Liberty
Village into downtown
Municipalities; Zoning & Planning
Boards; Counties; Property owners
Identify a temporary site for pilot
project
Create permanent facility
Municipality; RVCC
Convene local farmers and
restaurateurs
Develop a full "farm-to-table"
program
Local businesses; Business
associations; Hunterdon County
Agricultural Board
Identify a temporary site for pilot
project
Create permanent facility
County & Municipal Health
Departments; Hospital
Continue discussion between arts
groups and property owners
Identify permanent operator and
dedicated space
Municipality; Arts groups
THE ROAD MAP
Mobility
Actors
Actions:
Short term
Long term
A. Transit
CENTERS
Increase intermodal connectivity
Create inter-center travel between
Flemington, Raritan and Somerville
Coordinate existing routes/schedules Link new and existing services
Transit providers
Develop pilot program
Provide permanent service
HART; Ridewise
Upgrade existing shelters
Provide new shelters at new stations Transit providers; Municipalities
Improved bus shelters
Improved transit way-finding
Upgrade signage
Transit providers; Municipalities
Marketing transit
Distribute information about existing Implement full travel demand
services
management program
Transit providers; Businesses and
institutions
Create more station parking (bus and
train)
Negotiate with land
owners/developers for shared
parking
Transit providers; Property
owners/developers; Municipalities
Create new parking facilities
THE ROAD MAP
Mobility
Actions:
Short term
CENTERS
B. Alternative Mobility
Eliminate barriers to
walking/biking
Full ped/bike audit; New
bike lanes/shared lanes
Provide bike parking
facilities in new
Support biking facilities
developments and at
government buildings
Ensure connections between Identify and complete
existing bike trails and centers missing links
Actors
Long term
Full implementation
Municipalities; Counties;
State
Expand and enhance
network
Municipalities; Counties;
State
State; Counties;
Municipalities
EDGES
THE ROAD MAP
Economic/Market
EDGES
1. Changing demographics
supports repurposing of
obsolete retail
2. Changing business trends 
linkages between RVCC
developing skilled workforce
needs and business
attraction.
THE ROAD MAP
Land Use
Actions:
Short term
EDGES
Actors
Long term
Re-purpose existing underutilized
Re-zone for mixed-use residential
buildings: incorporate compact,
where necessary; Develop design
residential, live-work space and
other mixed-uses into retail centers guidelines for study areas; Work Identify redevelopment areas
with owners to reposition
and implement area-specific
buildings/sites
plans
Re-purpose existing underutilized
buildings: RVCC satellite or health
facility
Re-zone for institutional where
necessary; Develop design
guidelines for study areas; Work Identify redevelopment areas
with owners to reposition
and implement area-specific
buildings/sites
plans
Re-purpose existing underutilized
buildings: attract small and mid-size Conduct market demand study
businesses and boutiques
for small scale retail
Create streets and blocks in large
expanses of surface parking to
facilitate new development types
and public spaces
Develop a business attraction
plan to draw small/mid-size
businesses and boutique retail
Remove some surface parking
spaces and begin to integrate
public green spaces into existing
parking lot; Begin to lay down a Complete a street and block
better defined set of
network around new
thoroughfares in the lot
development and public spaces
Municipalities; Zoning &
Planning Boards; Counties;
Property owners
Municipalities; Zoning &
Planning Boards; County &
Municipal Health Departments;
Hospital
Property owners; Business
associations
Property owners; Business
associations
THE ROAD MAP
Mobility
Actors
Actions:
Short term
Long term
A. Transit
EDGES
Make transit-accessible:
provide access and facilities
for buses
Provide park-and-ride
facilities
Identify key locations for
new bus stops that serve
redevelopment sites;
Develop redevelopment
site plans that include bus
stops and accommodate
buses
Identify key locations for
park and ride facilities at
redevelopment sites
Implement new bus stops
at redevelopment sites;
Market as transit-oriented
Implement park and
facilities at redevelopment
site
Transit providers;
Municipalities; Property
owners/developers
Transit providers;
Municipalities; Property
owners/developers
THE ROAD MAP
Mobility
Actions:
Short term
Actors
Long term
B. Alternative Mobility
EDGES
Create ped/bike
connections throughout
Reserve easements;
Build first strategic
segments; Create zoning
incentives to enlist land
owners in building
Create networks across State DOT; Property
sections
redevelopment sites
owners
Create ped/bike
connections to surrounding Identify and build most
areas
strategic links
Identify locations;
Provide bike facilities
Provide incentives for
biking
Build full bike/pedestrian Municipalities;
network
Property owners
Revise zoning to
mandate; Build
dedicated facilities
Property owners
CROSSROADS
THE ROAD MAP
Economic/Market
CROSSROADS
1. Attract new businesses and
younger workforce.
2. TOD mixed-use residential in
centers and edges.
3. Market study for service
businesses.
THE ROAD MAP
Land Use
Actors
Actions:
Short term
CROSSROADS
Support transition to the most viable
office and industrial uses
Evaluate policy effectiveness (office
park/industrial zoning - retail needs
to be supported); Detailed surveys of
existing businesses; Determine:
vacancies, what's needed what's
missing, how are policies to support,
what is demand, what you need,
where you need it
Provide some new services/businesses to
make these more complete places
Identify what additional uses would
make these more "complete places'
(service businesses, open space
amenities)
Reserve large parcels for campus scale
developments
Preserve in Master Plan
Long term
Implement policies/zoning needed to
get them there (state, counties,
municipalities supporting
development - PILOTS,
Redevelopment designation,
Strategic Plan - expedited permitting); Property owners; Business
Provide financial incentives
associations; EDA's
Implement policies/zoning needed to
get them there (state, counties,
municipality supporting development
- PILOTS; Redevelopment
designation; Strategic Plan expedited permitting)
Municipality; Property owners
Re-calibrate zoning to the market
studies; Create design guidelines for
large parcels that preserve campus
character and promote connections
between developments; Create
corridor design guidelines for control
character of any frontages along
Route 202
Municipality; Business owners
THE ROAD MAP
Mobility
Actions:
Short term
Actors
Long term
A. Transit
Make transit-accessible: provide
access and facilities for buses
CROSSROADS
Work with owners on access and
liability issues
Implement full TDM program
Property owners; Transit
providers; Municipality
Provide park-and-ride facilities
Complete demand study for
park-and-ride at this location;
Identify potential locations
Provide new facilities/dedicated
area (waiting area, dedicated for Property owners; Businesses;
access for transit)
Transit providers
Coordinate with employer shuttles
Study intermodal possibilities
(schedule coordination, etc.)
Implement full TDM program
Provide new road connection with
access to Route 202 (Chubb Way
extension)
Transit providers; Employers
Map route and reserve right-ofway; Zoning bonus to incentivize Build new connecting road
public/private partnership to
extension to be bike/pedestrian- County; Property owners; State
build segments
friendly
DOT
THE ROAD MAP
Mobility
Actors
Actions:
Short term
Long term
B. Alternative Mobility
CROSSROADS
Create ped/bike connections
between areas
Reserve easements; Build first
strategic segments; Create zoning
incentives to enlist property
owners in building sections
Create ped/bike connections to
surrounding neighborhoods
Identify and build most strategic Build full bike/pedestrian
links
network
Municipality; Property owners
Provide bike facilities
Identify locations; Provide
incentives for biking
Property owners
Create network between the
quadrants of the crossroads with
pedestrianized crossings for
Route 202
State DOT; Property owners
Revise zoning to mandate; Build
dedicated facilities
RURAL NEIGHBORHOODS
THE ROAD MAP
Land Use
Actions:
Short term
Limited, context-sensitive new
development within the
neighborhoods
RURAL
NEIGHBORHOODS
Create a new node on the corridor
with neighborhood-scale services.
Community farming/gardens
Develop neighborhood-scale
design guidelines
Actors
Long term
Municipalities; Zoning &
Implement new development at Planning Boards; County;
opportunity areas
Property owners
New zoning to guide appropriate
mixed-uses
Implement new node
Municipalities; Zoning &
Planning Boards; County;
Property owners
Link to eco-tourism and farm-totable initiatives; Develop a
Local advocates; Schools
community farming program and
Identify advocates and pilot sites;
school curriculum
Implement "buy local" campaign
Ensure locally produced foods from Convene local farmers and
nearby farms in local restaurants
restaurateurs
Develop a full "farm-to-table"
program
Local businesses; Business
associations; County
Agricultural Board
THE ROAD MAP
Mobility
Actors
Actions:
Short term
Long term
A. Transit
RURAL
NEIGHBORHOODS
Provide park-and-ride facility at new Complete demand study for park- Provide new facilities/dedicated
bus stop
and-ride at this location; Identify area (waiting area, dedicated for
potential locations
access for transit)
Property owners; Transit
providers
THE ROAD MAP
Mobility
Actions:
Short term
Actors
Long term
B. Alternative Mobility
RURAL
NEIGHBORHOODS
Create ped/bike connections
throughout
Reserve easements; Build first
strategic segments; Create zoning
incentives to enlist property
Create networks across
owners in building sections
redevelopment sites
State DOT; Property owners
Create ped/bike connections to
surrounding areas
Identify and build most strategic Build full bike/pedestrian
links
network
Municipality; Property owners
Provide bike facilities
Identify locations; Provide
incentives for biking
Property owners
PARKWAY
THE ROAD MAP
Economic/Market
RURAL
NEIGHBORHOODS
1. Housing in Centers and Edges
to meet demographic
demand. Capitalize on rural
quality of life through trails,
preservation, etc.
2. Encourage repurposing that
supports existing and growth
markets limiting congestion.
THE ROAD MAP
Economic/Market
PARKWAY
1. Agri- and Eco-tourism.
Maintain green, pastoral
image.
2. Housing in Centers and Edges
to meet demographic
demand.
THE ROAD MAP
Land Use
Actions:
Short term
Promote open space preservation to
Develop parkway landscape
preserve parkway character
design guidelines
PARKWAY
Develop a local promotional
Promote agriculture and eco-tourism strategy for agricultural products;
Coordinate with farm-to-table
effort
Community farming/gardens
Actors
Long term
Purchase/transfer remaining
development rights
Municipalities; Open space and
farm preservation
organizations; State DOT
State Tourism Board; Counties;
Make this and surrounding area Municipalities; Agriculture
an eco-tourism destination
boards; Restaurateurs
Link to eco-tourism and farm-toIdentify advocates and pilot sites; table initiatives; Develop a
Local advocates; Schools
Implement "buy local" campaign community farming program and
school curriculum
Identify shared facilities; Link to
Farm stands/farmers markets/farm Reinforce and market the existing
eco-tourism and farm-to-table
supermarkets
stands
initiatives
State Tourism Board; Counties;
Municipalities; Agriculture
boards; Restaurateurs
THE ROAD MAP
Mobility
Actions:
Short term
A. Transit
Provide bus stop at new farm
outlets
PARKWAY
Vans with branding link
farms/farm stands to
surrounding areas
Identify location for pilot
service
Actors
Long term
Build new bus stops at farm
outlets
Branded vans and routes link
eco-tourism destination in
Pilot van programs linking to Somerset and Hunterdon
farms and farm stands
Counties
Transit providers; Property
owners
National/state touring
companies; Farmers
THE ROAD MAP
Mobility
Actions:
Short term
Actors
Long term
B. Alternative Mobility
PARKWAY
Create both on-street and off-street
Identify short term
rural bike and hiking routes
ped/bike/hiking opportunities
Complete comprehensive onand off-road trail network
Counties; Municipalities;
Property Owners
Corridor Vision
Key Actors
• Somerset & Hunterdon County Freeholders, Planners,
Agricultural Boards
• Municipal Leaders and Staff
• State DOT
• Transit Providers (Ridewise; HART; Trans Bridge; NJ
Transit)
• Employers and Somerset County Business Partnership;
Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce
•
•
•
•
RVCC
Private Property Owners, business and farmers
Developers
Non-profits (Arts, tourism, farm, etc.)
Next Steps
• How can we ensure that there is cross-municipal and intergovernmental collaboration?
• How can we maintain a lasting forum for communication and
implementation?
• How does Together 202 factor into larger regional efforts?
Thank You