Table Of ContentNewark’s
Master Plan
Our City
Our Future
Volume 1
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 1
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
A LETTER FROM THE MAYOR
Darnell Moore
Ally Nash
Christopher Pye
Irene Cooper-Basch
Donyea Hoffman
Jill Johnson
Nakia White
Nancy Zak
Zemin Zhang
NEWARK MASTER PLAN 5
EDITORIAL TABLE OF CONTENTS
V. 1
01 Introduction
02 Vision & Policy Goals
03 Business & Industry
s
04 Housing
t 05 Mobility
f
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 7
THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK
STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS INTRODUCTION N
A
L
P
R
E
T
S
A
M
K
R
A
W
E
N
N
O
I
T
C
U
D
O
R
T
N
I
NEWARK MASTER PLAN 9
STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS INTRODUCTION
Newark’s Master Plan was developed in partnership with This is Newark’s
Newark’s communities. The process for developing the
various Master Plan elements included collaborations with Master Plan. It
City leadership and agencies working each day to make
Newark a healthy, prosperous, and livable city. Experts, belongs to us.
from community members to practicing professionals,
It’s about us.
provided a wealth of knowledge to ensure the viability
of the actions within the Master Plan. We heard from
It’s a road map
residents, business owners, community organizations,
and many dedicated citizens who care about Newark and
to our city, our
participated in neighborhood workshops to share their
ideas and goals for Newark’s future. future.
A Comprehensive
Strategy for Newark
This Master Plan has been prepared to comply with the New in its current form was adopted in the 1950s, and much of it is out
Jersey Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL), which requires that of touch with today’s development patterns. Over the past several
municipalities update and adopt a new master plan every 10 years. years, the City has made progress in amending different aspects of
It represents the first comprehensive revision of all the elements of the Ordinance to promote things like design quality, walkability,
a master plan in Newark in more than two decades. and compatibility between adjacent and mixed uses. The City also
adopted several major redevelopment plans that apply to certain
In recent years, the City has made significant progress in its areas of the city, such as the downtown and riverfront; these
efforts to develop a shared vision about growth and development. plans have their own development regulations that supersede the
In 2004, the City updated the Land Use Element to align with underlying Zoning Ordinance.
current conditions, but the process did not lead to the adoption
or implementation of necessary zoning code changes. In 2009, The new Ordinance will build on recent planning efforts and
it completed a Master Plan Re-Examination – titled Shifting incorporate other needed amendments to facilitate appropriate
Forward 2025 – of previous master plan documents. In addition redevelopment activities (with respect to land use and urban
to providing a comprehensive assessment of Newark’s planning, design) that are consistent with the goals of this Master Plan. The
zoning, and land development issues, the Re-Examination also Ordinance will also be reorganized to make it easier for property
established broad principles to be considered in the preparation owners and the development community to understand and
of this Master Plan. utilize.
Our City, Our Future In compliance with the MLUL, the Newark Central Planning
Board is responsible for approving the new Master Plan and any
subsequent amendments. The revised Zoning Ordinance will
Newark’s new Master Plan will serve as a comprehensive
ultimately be adopted by the Municipal Council.
regulatory document that guides the city’s land use, development,
preservation, sustainability, and neighborhood revitalization
A Culture of Engagement
activities through the year 2025. It will also serve as a tool – a
living document – that drives real world actions taken by elected
officials and citizens in achieving measurable and agreed upon In revising the Master Plan, the City worked with community
goals. This includes the prioritization, budgeting, management, stakeholders to establish a formal process for proactive, citizen-
and implementation of investments throughout the city. centered planning and engagement. Throughout the process, the
City placed the highest priority on government transparency
Finally, this document will lead to the adoption of a new Zoning and accessibility to ensure that all community voices and values
Ordinance for Newark. A Zoning Ordinance helps guide are respected and considered. Community engagement and
development and growth by stating what land uses and building consultation manifested itself on a number of different levels:
types are allowed in different parts of the city. Newark’s Ordinance
NEWARK MASTER PLAN 10
