US Route 130/Delaware River Corridor Plan
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Florence Township comments are provided in red or highlighted. U.S. ROUTE 130 / DELAWARE RIVER CORRIDOR PLAN ENDORSEMENT ASSESSMENT REPORT Prepared on behalf of the Burlington County Board County Commissioners by the Burlington County Bridge Commission, Department of Economic Development and Regional Planning in coordination with the following municipalities: City of Beverly City of Burlington Burlington Township Cinnaminson Township Delanco Township Delran Township Edgewater Park Township Florence Township Borough of Palmyra Riverside Township Borough of Riverton Willingboro Township February 2021 Prepared By: Tom J. Stanuikynas, AICP, PP The following Burlington County Economic Development and Regional Planning staff contributed to the completion of this report: Linda Wong, GIS Specialist DRAFT Route 130 Corridor Assessment Report TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 1 INPUT FROM MUNICIPAL QUESTIONNAIRE 2 EXISTING CONDITIONS/OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES 3 Location and Regional Context 3 Background 7 INVENTORY OF KEY CHARACTERISTICS 11 Current Population and Trends 11 Housing and Economic Trends 15 Natural Cultural and Recreational Features 20 Available Public Facilities and Services 24 Transportation, Circulation and Goods Movement 26 Water and Sewer Infrastructure and Capacity Issues 28 Underutilized Land 30 Other Characteristics Error! Bookmark not defined. STATUS OF PLANNING 33 COMMUNITY VISION & PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 43 RECENT AND UPCOMING DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES 46 STATEMENT OF PLANNING COORDINATION 54 STATE, FEDERAL & NON-PROFIT PROGRAMS, GRANTS AND CAPITAL PROJECTS 56 SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT 61 CONSISTENCY 62 Local and Regional Planning 62 State Plan - Goals, Policies & Indicators 63 Center Criteria and Policy 81 Planning and Policy Objectives 91 STATE AGENCY ASSISTANCE 92 APPENDICES 95 DRAFT Route 130 Corridor Assessment Report INTRODUCTION On April 28, 1999, the New Jersey State Planning Commission (NJSPC) endorsed the Route 130/Delaware River Corridor Strategic Plan (Plan), which was prepared by the Burlington County Office of Land Use Planning1 for twelve municipalities along U.S. Route 130 (see below). • Beverly City • Edgewater Park Township • Burlington City • Florence Township • Burlington Township • Palmyra Borough • Cinnaminson Township • Riverside Township • Delanco Township • Riverton Borough • Delran Township • Willingboro Township The endorsement of the Plan resulted in the designation of six centers and the delineation of fourteen nodes within the Route 130/Delaware River Corridor2 (Corridor). In 2009, the designation of those centers was extended to June 30, 2019. Subsequently, the NJSPC amended N.J.A.C. 5:85-7.21 to extend the expiration dates of certain plan endorsements, including the above-mentioned plan, to June 30, 2020. In March 2020, the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic caused local and State government to temporarily shift focus away from plan endorsement. In recognition of the current situation, the State Planning Commission extended by resolution the June 30, 2020 deadline until 180 days after the revocation of Executive Order 103, which declared the COVID public emergency and does not expire until revoked by the Governor. The purpose of this self-assessment report is to meet the requirements of plan endorsement and extend the designations for the six centers identified in the 1999 Plan: 1) Palmyra-Riverton-East Riverton; 2) Beverly-Delanco-Edgewater Park; 3) Burlington; 4) Riverside-Cambridge; 5) Willingboro- Edgewater Park; and 6) Florence-Roebling, as well as the 14 associated nodes within the Corridor. Over the last 20 years since the Plan was first endorsed, the Corridor experienced significant changes in population, employment, infrastructure and land use, as described in more detail in the following sections. As an example, the population in the Corridor increased from 129,089 in 1990 to 142,714 in 2010, which equates to a 10.6% increase. This positive trend is a reversal of the previous 30 years when the Corridor experienced a slow but steady decline. However, during the last 20 years, proper planning, which was guided by the Plan and municipal initiatives, has created a blueprint for sensible growth, redevelopment and economic stability. Additionally, the presence of the NJ TRANSIT RiverLine, which opened in 2004, and the new Turnpike Interchange in Florence Township had a positive impact on the economy and development patterns throughout the Corridor. A growth in regional demand for warehouse and distribution facilities, the revitalization of retail centers in the commercial corridor and a rise in residential development, especially around the transit stations, are expected to continue over the next ten years, affecting land use and zoning decisions at the local and regional scale. Although the landscape has changed since 1999, the goals and objectives within the Corridor have remained generally the same since the original Plan received endorsement. Attracting new 1 On June 15, 2010, the Burlington County Bridge Commission assumed the roles of economic development and regional planning within the County from the Burlington County Office of Land Use Planning. 2 In 2014, the Route 130/Delaware River Corridor was rebranded and is also referred to as the River Route Corridor Page 1 DRAFT Route 130 Corridor Assessment Report jobs to the County and improving the quality of life in the County are still major goals. Additionally, Burlington County strives to maintain a balance between preservation and progress without jeopardizing the quality of life of its citizens. Other goals of the Strategic Plan include: Improving the quality of life; initiating positive change and improvement; encouraging development and redevelopment; promoting consensus planning among municipalities; involving county departments; fostering public and private partnerships; and coordinating with State agencies, entities and authorities. These goals are consistent with the local master plans as well as Statewide Goals found in the State Development and Redevelopment Plan (SDRP). Receiving plan endorsement, which will extend center designation through 2030, will assist the 12 municipalities as they continue to implement strategies to address development and redevelopment, economic revitalization, pedestrian safety, improved circulation, stormwater management and sustainable growth principles. As in the past, collaboration between State, the County and local entities is vital to the ongoing success of planning initiative in the Corridor. Since the NJSPC endorsed the Plan in 1999, Burlington County and the 12 municipalities have worked diligently to enact the implementation agenda provided in the Strategic Plan. During this time, the municipalities within the Corridor benefitted from the assistance of several State agencies to advance various projects and developments. Additionally, the municipalities in the Corridor were able to competitively compete for and obtain various grants and collaborated with neighboring municipalities, the County and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC) to improve the quality of life for its citizens and the economic viability of the region. Continued technical and financial assistance from State agencies, in the form of brownfields development and remediation, housing guidance, redevelopment, infrastructure improvements, coordinated planning assistance and water quality protection, is essential to the continued improvement and revitalization of the Corridor and the provision of support necessary for the municipalities and the County to implement the goals of the Plan. This Self-Assessment Report outlines previous accomplishments and areas where continued technical and financial assistance will provide opportunities to further implement the goals and objectives of the Plan. This Report is a snapshot taken in time between 2019 and 2021. INPUT FROM MUNICIPAL QUESTIONNAIRE In December 2020, the 12 municipalities in the corridor were asked to complete and submit a municipal questionnaire, which was crafted by the State’s Office of Planning Advocacy and the Burlington County Bridge Commission’s Economic Development and Regional Planning Department. The questionnaire allows the municipalities an opportunity to provide detail on topics not addressed in the original 1999 Strategic Plan, complement the regional analysis contained in this Self-Assessment Report and give a more local perspective. The completed questionnaires include a description of local goals, relevant planning issues and past efforts related to Plan Endorsement, requests for assistance from State agencies and waivers sought. Submitted as a separate document by each municipality, the questionnaire summarizes how each community is addressing their vulnerable populations, resiliency and climate change, environmental justice and social equity and affordable housing. Page 2 DRAFT Route 130 Corridor Assessment Report EXISTING CONDITIONS/OPPORTUNITIES & CHALLENGES Location and Regional Context The Route 130/Delaware River or River Route Corridor is in the western portion of Burlington County. The Corridor is located along U.S. Route 130 and the Delaware River and extends approximately 16 miles from Cinnaminson Township in the south to Florence Township in the north. The combined area of the 12 municipalities is approximately 64 square miles. It is strategically located 20 minutes from Center City Philadelphia and an hour and a half from Midtown Manhattan. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of the Corridor was