Bloomfield Takes Fresh Look At ‘Master Plan,’ Public Hearing Scheduled

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — Real estate planning. Zoning codes. Historic preservation. Traffic. These are just a few of the important regulations that are covered in Bloomfield’s “master plan.”

The Bloomfield Planning Board will be holding two big meetings in March and April involving a new municipal master plan – a strategic document that guides future growth and development in the township.

Here’s what to know, according to township officials:

BOARD REVIEW – On Tuesday, March 11 at 7 p.m., the Township Planning Board will review the master plan and hold a vote on whether to approve and move it forward for public review. There will be no public comment during this planning board meeting. Following the vote and approval, the full master plan, along with an executive summary (available in both English and Spanish), will be made available for review on the township’s website: https://www.bloomfieldtwpnj.com/359/Master-Plan. Residents who wish to view the documents in person may make an appointment with the planning board secretary by calling (973) 680-4012 or visiting Room 203 of Town Hall, 1 Municipal Plaza.

PUBLIC HEARING – On Tuesday, April 8 at 7 p.m. in the council chambers on the second floor of Town Hall, the planning board will hold a public hearing on whether to adopt the master plan. This meeting will be an opportunity for residents to provide feedback before the final vote on adoption of the plan. To ensure accessibility, Spanish-language translators will be available in-person to assist residents during this hearing.

“We’ve heard from many residents who are eager to see the details of the master plan, and we look forward to sharing the plan and executive summary with them,” Bloomfield Mayor Jenny Mundell said.

“The master plan reflects the vision of our community, whose input was invaluable in shaping this document,” Mundell said. “It will help guide Bloomfield’s future growth, while preserving the qualities that make it such a great place to live. We encourage all residents to take part in the review process.”

Bloomfield Planning Board chair Alan Laquaglia said the plan has been a product of “years of careful planning and collaboration.”

“Feedback from our residents, alongside collaboration with experts and local leaders, has been the guiding light in developing this roadmap for Bloomfield’s future,” Laquaglia said. “We look forward to presenting the master plan to the community, and are eager to hear their thoughts.”

Pending the initial vote to move the master plan forward for public review, the township anticipates that the timeline will give residents more than double the required 10 days to review the master plan before the public hearing and adoption vote, officials said.

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