Dunellen Residents Asked To Fill Out Online Survey About Their Town

DUNELLEN, NJ — The Dunellen community is invited to provide input that will inform the borough’s municipal plan update.

Dunellen Mayor Jason Cilento and DMR Architects launched this online questionnaire with input from NJ Transit and the New Jersey Transportation Planning Authority. The survey is administered by DMR Architects.

DMR Architects is the master planner on record for more than 15 New Jersey towns, in addition to Dunellen.

The questionnaire is open to the public in English and in Spanish from Aug. 17 through Sept. 21. Residents of Dunellen and surrounding towns are invited to fill it out before Sept. 21.

The 35-point questionnaire will be used to ensure that the borough’s long-term planning efforts are addressing the needs of its current and future residents. There are questions that address public resources, residential options, retail, the desire for "parklets" (mini parks) and pop-up parks, walkability and bike-ability and other residential priorities that need to be addressed.

Dunellen residents are also encouraged to attend the Sept. 14 community meeting as another option for sharing their feedback. It will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Lincoln Middle School Cafeteria at 400 Dunellen Avenue.

Once the survey period is closed, DMR Architects will analyze the data and incorporate key findings into the new plan, which will be presented to the mayor and council when completed.

“We’re taking a thoughtful approach as to how to collect comments in advance of the next public meeting so that our council is prepared to react to the issues that are most pressing for residents right now, and ensure that they are addressed and incorporated properly into the new plan at the beginning of the process,” said Dunellen Mayor Jason Cilento.

“Inviting the current residents into the master planning process is critical to understanding how public areas are currently being used and the opportunities to evolve into something more rewarding for the community,” said Francis Reiner, Director of Planning & Redevelopment at DMR Architects. “Dunellen’s commitment to delivering what residents want and need will inform the planning process in a profound and productive way, and we look forward to analyzing the feedback and incorporating it into the plan.”

Dunellen's master plan reexamination is one of numerous planning initiatives undertaken by the Borough to support downtown business growth, attract appropriate redevelopment partners and create pedestrian-friendly streets.

Dunellen is in the process of working with the New Jersey Transportation Planning Authority to adopt a "Complete and Green Streets policy," and conduct what is thought to be the first voluntary municipal Climate Resiliency Study examining the impact of climate change on the borough. Dunellen is also using NJ Transit's Transit Friendly Planning to increase transportation options to the borough.

For more information about the survey visit www.dunellen-nj.gov or call 732.968.3033. Hard copies of the survey will be available at the Clerk’s Office or Tax Collector’s Office at Borough Hall (355 North Avenue) or the Dunellen Public Library (100 New Market Road) for those who do not have access to the internet.

For more information about DMR Architects’ municipal planning capabilities, visit www.dmrarchitects or call 201.288.2600.