BRanchBurg Township master plan 2011 land use plan element

About

The Master Plan

A master plan is a road map for achieving a community’s vision for future growth and conservation. It includes an inventory, analysis and recommendations for land use types and densities, housing, transportation, community facilities, and community design. The master plan is prepared by the Planning Board in accordance with the NJ Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL), NJSA 40:55D-1, et al. The MLUL authorizes a Planning Board to include 12 different types of plan elements in a master plan, including land use, housing, historic preservation, economic development, etc. A municipality cannot adopt or amend a zoning ordinance without an adopted land use plan element and housing plan element. The other master plan elements are optional.

The Land USe Plan Element
The Land Use Plan Element is one of the mandatory elements of the comprehensive master plan and is the plan for the physical development of the community. The land use plan brings together and summarizes all of the other elements. There are four ( 4) required parts to the land use plan element:
• A statement setting forth the land use plan element’s relationship to the overall goals and policies of the comprehensive master plan.
• Maps showing extent and intensity of each type of land use planned in the community and an explanation of how the land plan relates to either the existing or proposed zoning ordinance and zone map.
• Location of existing or proposed airports or airport safety zones.
• Explanation of the population density and development intensity recommended for the municipality.
 

The Master Plan's Role  The primary role of the master plan is to provide the basis for municipal land use regulations. In New Jersey, land use ordinances are required to be consistent with the master plan, with few exceptions. The master plan also provides the policy framework for which the Planning Board and Zoning Board of Adjustment use to evaluate the merits of zoning variances. The master plan can also be used by the municipality for capital planning, community facilities planning and other public policy decisions.

Master Planning Process
The master planning process is a journey into the future that results in a long-term vision of how the community should look and function. The process involves three primary phases beginning with an analysis of existing conditions, public policies, and past trends and issues. This information answers the question “Where Are We Now?" The next phase is a public participatory process that results in a long-term vision for the community and answers the question “What Do We Want to Be?” This phase typically includes a vision statement, goals and objectives. The final phase answers the question “How Do We Get There?” and constitutes the policy framework of the Plan. This phase includes specific land use strategies, zoning recommendations and other public policies to achieve the community vision.

The 2011 Master Plan website is maintained by the Township's planning consultants Clarke Caton Hintz.

What is a Master Plan?

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