Town of Harrison Hudson County Master Plan Reexamination Report October 2020 Adopted November 10, 2020 Prepared by Heyer, Gruel & Associates Community Planning Consultants 236 Broad Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701 (732) 741-2900 Town of Harrison, Hudson County, NJ October 2020 Master Plan Reexamination Report INTRODUCTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Town of Harrison Master Plan Reexamination Report 2020 Town of Harrison Hudson County, New Jersey October 2020 Adopted November 10 2020 Prepared By: Heyer, Gruel & Associates Community Planning Consultants 236 Broad Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701 (732) 741-2900 The original of this report was signed and sealed in accordance with N.J.S.A. 45:14A-12 ____________________________________ Susan S. Gruel, P.P. #1955 ____________________________________ M. McKinley Mertz, AICP, P.P. #6368 Contributing Content by Lauren Purdom, AICP ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heyer, Gruel & Associates 2 Town of Harrison, Hudson County, NJ October 2020 Master Plan Reexamination Report INTRODUCTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................................................ 4 PERIODIC REEXAMINATION ........................................................................................................................ 4 SECTION A .................................................................................................................................................... 5 Goals and Objectives ..................................................................................................................... 5 SECTION B .................................................................................................................................................... 8 SECTION C .................................................................................................................................................... 8 Changes at the Local Level ................................................................................................................... 8 Redevelopment ................................................................................................................................... 8 Zoning Changes .................................................................................................................................. 9 Harrison Public Schools ....................................................................................................................... 9 Open Space and Recreation .......................................................................................................... 11 Affordable Housing ........................................................................................................................... 12 Local Demographic Characteristics ............................................................................................... 13 Changes at the County and Regional Level ..................................................................................... 20 2015 and 2020 Updates to Hudson County Hazard Mitigation Plan ........................................... 20 Newark’s Riverfront Park Project ...................................................................................................... 23 Hudson County Master Plan ............................................................................................................. 23 Changes at the State Level ................................................................................................................. 24 COVID Permit Extension Act of 2020 ............................................................................................... 24 Airbnb Regulations ............................................................................................................................ 24 Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) .................................................................................................. 25 SECTION D .................................................................................................................................................. 26 Master Plan ............................................................................................................................................ 26 Land Development Ordinance ........................................................................................................... 26 SECTION E ................................................................................................................................................... 29 SECTION F ................................................................................................................................................... 29 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heyer, Gruel & Associates 3 Town of Harrison, Hudson County, NJ October 2020 Master Plan Reexamination Report INTRODUCTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ INTRODUCTION This report constitutes a Master Plan Reexamination Report for the Town of Harrison as defined by the New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-89). The purpose of the Reexamination Report is to review and evaluate the local Master Plan and Development Regulations on a periodic basis in order to determine the need for updates and revisions. The Town adopted its last Master Plan in 2007 and its most recent Reexamination Report in December of 2017. This Reexamination Report serves as an amendment to the 2017 Master Plan Reexamination Report. Section A of this report identifies the goals and objectives that were established in the 2007 Master Plan. Sections B and C describe changes that have occurred in the Town, the County, and the State since the adoption of the 2017 Master Plan Reexamination Report related to Town-specific development issues and general shifts in planning assumptions. Finally, Sections D, E, and F discuss recommended actions to be addressed by the Town. It is the intent of this Report to consider and provide recommendations concerning land use and zoning issues in the Town that have arisen during the years since the 2017 Master Plan Reexamination Report. PERIODIC REEXAMINATION New Jersey Municipal Land Use Law (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-89) requires the Reexamination Report to contain the following: A. The major problems and objectives relating to land development in the municipality at the time of the adoption of the last reexamination report, B. The extent to which such problems and objectives have been reduced or have increased subsequent to such date, C. The extent to which there have been significant changes in assumptions, policies and objectives forming the basis for the master plan or development regulations as last revised, with particular regard to the density and distribution of population and land uses, housing conditions, circulation, conservation of natural resources, energy conservation, collection, disposition, and recycling of designated recyclable materials, and changes in State, county and municipal policies and objectives, D. The specific changes recommended for the master plan or development regulations, if any, including underlying objectives, policies and standards, or whether a new plan or regulations should be prepared, ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Heyer, Gruel & Associates 4 Town of Harrison, Hudson County, NJ October 2020 Master Plan Reexamination Report SECTION A ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ E. The recommendations of the Planning Board concerning the incorporation of redevelopment plans adopted pursuant to the "Local Redevelopment and Housing Law," P.L.1992, c. 79 (C.40A: 12A-1 et seq.) into the land use plan element of the municipal master plan, and recommended changes, if any, in the local development regulations necessary to effectuate the redevelopment plans of the municipality, and F. The recommendations of the Planning Board concerning locations appropriate for the development of public electric vehicle infrastructure, including but not limited to, commercial districts, areas proximate to public transportation and transit facilities and transportation corridors, and public rest stops; and recommended changes, if any, in the local development regulations necessary or appropriate for the development of public electric vehicle infrastructure. SECTION A Goals and Objectives During the 2007 Master Plan process, the Town undertook a comprehensive analysis of the conditions that effect Harrison and influence the Town’s growth. In the years leading up to the 2007 Master Plan, the Town experienced the beginning of significant redevelopment efforts, concentrated