Table Of Content

Newark’s Master Plan Our City Our Future Volume 2 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK Newark’s Master Plan Our City Our Future Newark will set a national standard for urban transformation by marshalling its tremendous resources to achieve security, economic abundance, and an environment that is nurturing and empowering for families. Volume 2 ADOPTED BY THE NEWARK CENTRAL PLANNING BOARD ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTORS City of Newark Consultants Cory A. Booker Jonathan Rose Companies Citizens Advisory Board Mayor Daniel Hernandez Patricia Anthony Darnell Moore Simon Kawitzky Charles Auffant Ally Nash Julien X. Neals William Calabrese Ana Baptista Christopher Pye Business Administrator Geoffrey Dyck Rich Cammarieri Irene Cooper-Basch Joanna Cuevas Deirdre Coppin Donyea Hoffman Adam Zipkin John Shapiro Jerrah Crowder Jill Johnson Deputy Mayor for Economic and Housing John McIlwain Robin Dougherty Nakia White Development Priti Dhungel Kim Gaddy Nancy Zak Barbara Kauffman Zemin Zhang Arcelio Aponte Mikesell & Associates Brian McGrath Master Plan Project Leader Bill Mikesell Director of Operations and Management, Elcin Ertugrul CCNY Sustainability Program & Department of Economic and Housing Reemah Hoshan J. Max Bond Center on Design for the Development Michael Middleton Just City Robert Uhlhorn Matt Grubler Municipal Council Caleb Stratton Donald M. Payne, Jr. URBAN DESIGN+ Olivia Vien Augusto Amador Evan Rose Ras J. Baraka Michael Haggerty Mildred C. Crump Kaja Kuhl Many people and organizations were Carlos M. Gonzalez generous in contributing their time, Luis A. Quintana Phillips Preiss Grygiel knowledge, and support to this project Anibal Ramos, Jr. Paul Grygiel by hosting and/or participating in public Ronald C. Rice Elizabeth Leheny meetings, interviews, focus groups, Darrin S. Sharif Kathleen Thielman-Puniello and informal reviews. In particular, we would like to thank: BCDC; Clinton Hill Central Planning Board HR&A Community Resource Center; Central Melvin Waldrop Eric Rothman High School; Episcopal Community Juanita Jordan Carrie-Ann Broder Development; Essex County College; Augusto Amador Essex County Parks; Greater Newark Jermaine James Zakalak Associates Conservancy; Ironbound Business Clifton E. Johnson Ulana Zakalak Improvement District; Ironbound Wayne Richardson Community Corporation; James Street Christine Veliz Sam Schwartz Engineering Commons Historic District; La Casa de Paul L. Oliver Al Meyer Don Pedro; Lincoln Park Coast Cultural Carlos Valentin John McCormack District; Mount Prospect Partnership; New David Pimentel Tom Phelan (VHB) Community Corporation; Newark Alliance; Susan O’Donnell (VHB) Newark Downtown District; Newark Department of Economic and Housing Authority; Newark LISC; Newark Housing Development Center for Collaborative Change Museum; Newark Public Library; Newark Michele Alonso Laurel Dumont Public Schools; Newark Regional Business Stephanie Greenwood Yaminah Spotswood Partnership; Newark Urban Enterprise Michael Meyer Dare Thompson Zone; NJTPA; NJIT; NJPAC; The Port Damon Rich Shalese Mathis Authority of New York and New Jersey; Perris Straughter Don Edwards (JSA) Rutgers; Symphony Hall; Trust for Public Land; UMDNJ; United Vailsburg Services Special Advisor Organization; Urban League of Essex Toni Griffin County; and Weequahic Park Association. NEWARK MASTER PLAN 4 EDITORIAL TABLE OF CONTENTS V. 1 01 Introduction 02 Vision & Policy Goals Darnell Moore Ally Nash 03 Business & Industry Christopher Pye s Irene Cooper-Basch Donyea Hoffman 04 Housing Jill Johnson Nakia White t 05 Mobility Nancy Zak f Zemin Zhang 06 Parks & Natural Resources on 07 Utilities & Infrastructure Community, Cultural & 08 Educational Resources e 09 Historic Resources e 10 Implementation t l n b V. 2 11 Land Use o 12 Urban Design a 13 Neigborhoods 14 Relationship to Other Plans C T NEWARK MASTER PLAN 5 THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS 11 LAND USE N A L P R E T S A M K R A W E N D N E AS U L NEWARK MASTER PLAN 7 OVERVIEW 11 LAND USE Newark’s Zoning Ordinance – the set of regulations that establish the type and amount of development that is permissible in different areas of the city – dates to the 1950s and has not been comprehensively revised since that time. As a result, it is out of touch with today’s market forces and public interests. Over the past three decades, most development projects in Newark have been undertaken through redevelopment plans or variances – i.e., processes that circumvent the Ordinance. This has led to uncertainty and dissatisfaction for residents and investors. The continued absence of an updated Ordinance, especially at a time when Newark is experiencing development and growth, will only result in irreversible and harmful land use decisions that undermine Newark’s vision and goals. The Land Use Element is the document that provides the basis for any changes to the current Zoning Ordinance, consistent with the requirements of the Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL). It builds upon recent planning efforts and is intended to further the goals and objectives of this Master Plan. More specifically, the Land Use Over the past Element recommends numerous changes to the Zoning Ordinance and other development regulations in support of these objectives, three decades, including sweeping reform in the use of redevelopment plans to regulate development. most development The Land Use Element consists of four main parts: (1) an analysis projects in of key development and demographic trends; (2) a thorough overview of existing land uses throughout the city; (3) a summary Newark have of existing development regulations; and (4) a Future Land Use been undertaken Plan with recommendations for implementation. through redevelopment plans or variances – processes that circumvent the Zoning Ordinance NEWARK MASTER PLAN 8 LAND USE TRENDS 11 LAND USE Land Use Trends 01. An analysis of available data indicates that there has been Jersey from manufacturing to a more service-based economy. The significant investment in Newark over the past decade – especially 2009 Newark Master Plan Re-Examination Report noted this trend in the housing sector. The increase in Newark’s population over and a related need for Newark to capture retail spending that the past decade corresponds with a growing emphasis in the city was being lost to competition from surrounding areas. However, on both retaining existing residents and attracting new residents, Newark has many locational advantages for industrial land uses, particularly through the development of new housing in areas particularly in the vicinity of the air and seaports. that were not historically residential, such as the downtown; many recent redevelopment initiatives have embraced mixed-use development with a residential component. Policies at the state level have also served to encourage higher density, mixed-use development in urban areas with access to public transportation. These investments are making Newark a more attractive place to live and work. Newark’s residential growth has been further bolstered by new immigrants, particularly in the Ironbound neighborhood, which remains the first destination for many new immigrants to the United States, as well as by general trends towards city living, particularly among young Americans and, increasingly, retirees. Newark also has been impacted by the economic conditions and downturn in the real estate market that affected the country as a whole. While the total number of housing units in Newark has increased significantly between 2000 and 2010, so has the city’s vacancy rate – which in 2010 was 14%. The increase in commercial parcels since 1998 contrasts with a continuing decline in industrial properties since 1990, which correlates with a larger shift in New Land Use 1990 1998 2010 FIG 11.1: Number of Parcels by Major Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Land Use Category Newark, NJ, 1990, 1998, 2010 Vacant Land 4,385 9% 5,366 11% 4,209 9% Residential 25,816 56% 26,013 54% 29,733 62% (non-apartment) Apartment 1,254 3% 1,141 2% 1,245 3% Commercial/Retail 4,950 11% 4,850 10% 5,323 11% Industrial 1,188 3% 1,080 2% 900 2% Tax-Exempt (public, church, 8,688 19% 9,704 20% 6,646 14% and non-profit) Railroad Property 223 1% 215 <1% 209 <1% Source: 2004 Newark Master Plan Public Utilities 2 <1% 1 <1% 1 <1% Land Use Element, City of Newark Total 46,506 48,370 48,266 Assessor’s Office NEWARK MASTER PLAN 9 LAND USE TRENDS 11 LAND USE Land Use Change by Percent Percent FIG 11.2: Change in Major Land Use Number Change Change of Category between 1998 and 2010 City Total Newark, NJ Vacant Land -1,157 -22% -2% Residential (non-apartment) 3,720 14% 8% Apartment 104 9% 0% Commercial/Retail 473 10% 1% Industrial -180 -17% 0% Tax-Exempt -3,058 -32% -6% (public, church, and non-profit) Railroad Property -6 -3% 0% Public Utilities 0 0% 0% Total -104 Source: 2004 Newark Master Plan Land Use Element, City of Newark Assessor’s Office 30K FIG 11.3: Number of Parcels by Major Land Use Category Newark, NJ, 1990, 1998, 2010 25K 1990 Parcels 1998 Parcels 2010 Parcels 20K s) d n a s u o h 15K T ( d n a L of els 10K c ar P 5K 0 Source: 2004 Newark Master Plan Vacant Land Residential n-Apartment) Apartment Commercial /Retail Industrial Tax-Exempt Railroad Property Public Utilities o Land Use Element, City of Newark N ( Assessor’s Office NEWARK MASTER PLAN 10