Scotch Plains Adopts Downtown Redevelopment Plan

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — The Scotch Plains Township Council unanimously adopted recently a downtown redevelopment plan, the first in 40 years, to make way for a mix of retail, restaurants, apartments, a new combined library and town hall, convenient and efficient public parking, and public plazas along Park Avenue and surrounding streets.

“For years, Scotch Plains residents have seen neighboring towns revitalize their downtowns and attract millions of dollars of new investments and revenue to support public improvements and other priorities,” Mayor Josh Losardo said in a news release. “Our plan puts in place a solid, pro-growth framework for downtown revitalization. In today’s economy, with competition between municipalities for jobs and investment, it is critical that Scotch Plains has a comprehensive vision for our downtown, based on sound, smart planning.”

The redevelopment plan, which determines zoning and other parameters that will outline an ultimate mixed-use project, comprises 9.5 acres of public land downtown available for private and public development.

The central business district was identified in planning documents as a concern going back to 1976. Since 1984, there have been eight major planning studies prepared for the township’s downtown redevelopment area but none resulted in an adopted plan until this year.

“These pre-existing concerns and discussions about how to improve our downtown, coupled with the recent state-mandated affordable housing obligations, resulted in the adopted plan,” explained Scotch Plains Redevelopment Director Tom Strowe.

As part of its public outreach efforts, the Township conducted community surveys to generate input. A 2017 survey found that 86 percent of respondents believe that Scotch Plains downtown needs redevelopment.

Design standards were inspired by public input through an additional survey in 2018. This “Visual Preference Survey” sought community preferences of architectural themes and styles. The results were incorporated into the conceptual renderings and standards within the final plan.

“I am very proud of this citizen-led process, in which there was 35 regularly-held monthly open public meetings to reach this point,” Losardo said. “This is a complex plan with many moving parts that will require all of us to work together with an open mind while ensuring the core principles that define our town are not compromised.”

Watch the entire redevelopment plan meeting below: