The current Wayne Township Master Plan was originally adopted in 1994. At 30 years old, the existing Master Plan is out of date and a new Master Plan is needed. Consequently, the Township is in the process of preparing an updated Master Plan to guide future growth and development. Once adopted by the Wayne Township Planning Board, the new Master Plan will completely replace the existing, 1994 Master Plan.
The updated Master Plan will be comprehensive in scope and contain a variety of elements. The planned contents of the updated Master Plan are listed below:
- Statement of Objectives, Principles, Assumptions, Policies and Standards: This statement outlines the objectives, principles, assumptions, policies, and standards upon which the constituent proposals for the physical, economic, and social development of the municipality are based.
- Community Overview: The Community Overview provides a detailed overview of Wayne’s historical and current context, as well as a discussion of its anticipated future. It also provides key demographic, housing, economic and other indicators from the United States Census Bureau, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority, the Wayne Township Tax Assessor, and other sources.
- Outreach and Engagement Overview: The Outreach and Engagement Overview provides a thorough description of all outreach and engagement activities conducted during the preparation of the Master Plan in the form of text, table, charts, and graphics. This overview not only documents outreach and engagement activities for reference in the future, but also demonstrates that the Master Plan was prepared with the benefit of extensive public outreach and engagement. Key findings of outreach and engagement efforts are also presented.
- Land Use Plan Element + Climate Change-Related Hazard Vulnerability Assessment: The Land Use Plan Element provides an overview of existing land uses, environmental constraints, and current land use issues. The Climate Change-Related Hazard Vulnerability Assessment is a subsection of the Land Use Plan Element that analyzes current and future threats and vulnerabilities associated with climate change-related natural hazards affecting the municipality, along with strategies to mitigate them. Informed by all this information, the Land Use Plan Element then presents a proposed land use plan and outlines recommended zoning changes to facilitate its implementation.
- Circulation Plan Element: The Circulation Plan Element shows the location and types of facilities for all modes of transportation required for the efficient movement of people and goods throughout the municipality, as well as the conditions and availability of existing and proposed transportation facilities.
- Utility Service Plan Element: The Utility Service Plan Element evaluates existing utility capacity; key constraints on utility capacity; the need for system expansion to increase utility capacity; and potential strategies to fund necessary expansion of utility systems. Among the utility systems evaluated are water supply and distribution facilities; drainage and flood control facilities; sewerage and waste treatment; solid waste disposal and provision for other related utilities; and storm water management plans. Additionally, Wayne’s new Utility Service Plan Element includes a review of telecommunications infrastructure and its sufficiency for anticipated increased in technological capacity and suitability, particularly to support local businesses.
- Community Facilities Plan Element: The Community Facilities Plan Element reviews the Township’s current facilities and the need for any required changes to the facilities anticipated in the future. It considers educational or cultural facilities, historic sites, libraries, hospitals, firehouses, police stations and other related facilities, as well as their relation to surrounding municipalities.
- Recreation Plan Element: The Recreation Plan Element shows the Township’s comprehensive system of areas and public sites for recreation.
- Conservation Plan Element: The Conservation Plan Element identifies Wayne’s key environmental concerns (e.g., the need to protect wetlands and mitigate flood hazards) and reviews best practices for addressing them. The Conservation Plan Element also identifies areas and activities within the Township that have the greatest negative impact on environmental concerns and evaluates potential means to mitigate them.
- Recycling Plan Element: The Recycling Plan Element incorporates the State Recycling Plan goals, including provisions for the collection, disposition and recycling of recyclable materials designated in the municipal recycling ordinance, and for the collection, disposition and recycling of recyclable materials within any development proposal for the construction of 50 or more units of single-family residential housing or 25 or more units of multi-family residential housing, and any commercial or industrial development proposal for the utilization of 1,000 square feet or more of land.
- Green Buildings and Environmental Sustainability Plan Element: The Green Buildings and Environmental Sustainability Plan Element outlines and promotes the efficient use of natural resources and the installation and usage of renewable energy systems. It provides for, encourages, and promotes the efficient use of natural resources and the installation and use of renewable energy systems; considers, encourages, and promotes the development of public electric vehicle charging infrastructure; and considers the impact of buildings on the local, regional and global environments; and promotes the natural functioning of ecosystems, conservation and reuse of water on-site.
- Economic Plan Element: The Economic Plan Element analyzes anticipated trends in, identifies key requirements for, and develops strategies to promote economic growth within the Township of Wayne. The Economic Plan Element also includes an analysis of anticipated demand for land development. It is informed by a comprehensive Market Study.
- Statement of Plan Relationships: The statement of plan relationships indicates the relationship of the proposed development of the municipality to the master plans of contiguous municipalities, the master plan of the county, the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan and the district solid waste management plan.
- Implementation Plan: The Implementation Plan outlines specific policy recommendations and identifies achievable action items to implement all plan elements. A timeline of plan implementation and accompanying metrics to measure success of implementation are also provided. Additionally, the implementation plan is summarized in an accompanying Implementation Matrix, which provides a quick source of information to assist the Township in the day-to-day use and implementation of the Master Plan.
- Technical Appendices and Reports: The technical appendices and reports document all aspects of master plan preparation and provide supplemental information on individual master plan elements.
Please note that the content of municipal Master Plan documents is regulated by the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL) at N.J.S.A. 40:55D-28. The Township’s updated Master Plan will address all applicable requirements of the MLUL and provide a strong foundation for growth and development of Wayne Township over the next few decades.
You can play a part in the development of the updated Master Plan by: completing our online survey (link: Public Survey 1: Wayne’s Strengths and Challenges); stopping by for a chat at various community events like Wayne Day; or participating in other public engagement activities to be advertised on this webpage and the Township’s various social media accounts.