MASTER PLAN
OBJECTIVES, PRINCIPLES, ASSUMPTIONS, POLICIES AND STANDARDS
The first purpose listed in the Municipal Land Use Law, N.J.S.A. 40:55D-2 et seq., is to “encourage municipal action to guide the appropriate use or development of all lands in this state, in a manner which will promote the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare.” There are several other purposes included in the Municipal Land Use Law that provide a basis for guiding development at the municipal level.
The Municipal Land Use Law requires that when a municipal Master Plan is prepared that is shall include “a statement of the objectives, principles, assumptions, policies, and standards upon which the constituent proposals for the physical, economic and social development of the municipality are based.” While predominately developed, Beachwood has established specific objectives, policies, and standards in its overall planning program that have guided development through the years. The specific objectives, principles, assumptions, policies and standards upon which the Beachwood Borough Master Plan is based are included below.
LAND USE
Objective: Preserve the residential character and density of the borough and permit infill of isolated residential lots in a manner that will not have a detrimental impact to adjacent properties.
Policies and Standards: Through land development regulation, preserve viable residential neighborhoods by promoting sensitive infill development following existing lot patterns and the existing zoning in order to avoid excessively high densities and minimize excessive residential lot size deviations from the existing neighborhood pattern of 80 x 100 foot lots.
Maintain the commercially zoned areas as presently constituted while recognizing that the area along Atlantic City Boulevard is essentially developed but will undergo redevelopment thereby providing opportunities for upgrading buildings and site improvements including parking, drainage, landscaping and lighting. Commercial, office and manufacturing area along Pinewald Road can sustain limited additional development and future redevelopment. A small commercial area on the east side of Double Trouble Road, west of the Parkway, provides an opportunity for limited neighborhood retail and office uses.
HOUSING
Objective: Provide housing opportunities to meet the current and future population needs including housing opportunities to address Fair Share allocations of affordable housing for low and moderate income households in accordance with the New Jersey Council on Affordable Housing rules and guidelines.
Policies and Standards: Continue the current residential zoning pattern that has provided ample opportunities for moderate priced housing for families and senior residents.
Provide for rehabilitation of low and moderate income housing that has become deteriorated due to age and/or lack of proper maintenance through the use of funds from the Ocean County Community Development Residential Rehabilitation Program and, where possible, through other funding sources.
CIRCULATION
Objective: Improve the existing vehicular circulation system for all roads in the borough in accordance with the on-going Beachwood program of street maintenance and upgrading for borough streets and coordination with county and state agencies to upgrade county and state roadways.
Policies and Standards: Maintain a Functional Classification System for all the roads in the borough in accordance with the Ocean County Transportation Plan as approved by the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
Continue local roadway improvements in order to upgrade the borough circulation system through storm drains, intersection traffic controls and signage.
Coordinate borough roadway improvement with plans for state and county roadway and intersection improvements.
COMMUNITY FACILITIES
Objective: Encourage the expansion and improvement of community facilities to serve the needs of existing and projected population of the borough.
Policies and Standards: Coordinate plans for expanded school and library facilities with the Land Use Plan.
Provide additional recreation facilities for long-term population growth.
UTILITIES
Objective: Maintain and, where necessary, upgrade the borough infrastructure system to serve present and future residential and non-residential uses.
Policies and Standards: Coordinate proposed expansion of water and sewer distribution system with the Land Use Plan.
CONSERVATION
Objective: Promote conservation of environmentally sensitive land and overall energy conservation in the borough.
Policies and Standards: Coordinate land use planning with other state agencies to ensure that environmentally sensitive land, including wetlands and floodplains, will be protected from development.
Promote the public acquisition of passive open space and conservation areas to preserve environmentally sensitive vegetation and wildlife including threatened and endangered species such as Atlantic white cedar, Pine Barrens tree frogs, corn snakes, pine snakes, and others that may occur in remaining habitats in the borough.
RECREATION
The Tot Lot at Jakes Branch Park.
Objective: Provide for both active and passive recreation facilities to serve existing and projected populations of the borough.
Policies and Standards: Encourage the expansion and upgrading of recreational areas in the designated public land areas, especially in the southern portion of the borough at Hickory Street and, following closure by the NJDEP of the former Beachwood Borough Landfill on Pinewald Road.
Coordinate borough recreation programs with the future development of the Ocean County park, recreation and open space area west of the parkway at Beachwood West.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Objective: Enhance and expand the borough’s economic base by promoting the development of new business and employment opportunities in the commercial areas along Atlantic City Boulevard, Pinewald Road and Double Trouble Road.
Policies and Standards: Promote redevelopment of underdeveloped and incompatible older existing commercial uses along Atlantic City Boulevard and new commercial growth in the Pinewald Road and Double Trouble Road commercial areas in the borough.
HISTORIC PRESERVATION
Objective: While no historical buildings or sites are presently recorded, the borough should protect and preserve significant historic sites when identified by listing them on the Borough Register of Historic Sites and the County Register of Historic Sites.
Policies and Standards: Identify and document historic sites within the borough and promote land use patterns that will not adversely affect such sites.
RECYCLING
Objective: Continue to implement the New Jersey Mandatory Source Separation and Recycling Act.
Policies and Standards: Conform to the Ocean County Recycling Program and promote the maximum practical recovery of recycling materials from municipal solid waste.
Relocate the Municipal Leaf Composting Facility on Cherry Street to a location south of Hickory Street.
