Public Meeting Wednesday To Give Opinions On Middletown Master Plan

MIDDLETOWN, NJ — Reminder: On Feb. 21, Middletown Township invites all residents of Middletown to give their feedback on the Middletown Master Plan.

The first public workshop on the Middletown Master Plan will be from 7-9 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Middletown Arts Center at 36 Church Street. Free parking in lot across the street.

Middletown Twp. will first give a short presentation, followed by interactive open-house stations. Come share your ideas and vision for future land use, development and the preservation of natural and cultural resources in Middletown.

What is a Master Plan? For the first time in 20 years, Middletown Township will create a comprehensive Master Plan. This plan will chart the course of the Township's future: The plan will lay out where future development will be, where parks will remain or new parks will be created and is meant overall to respond to the needs of the community, and what residents want to see built — or not built! — in Middletown.

To access the 2004 Master Plan and related planning documents, visit: www.middletownnj.org/masterplan

Here is info. about the Feb. 21 meeting on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/event...

Middletown hired BFJ Planning, a planning consultant firm based in New York City, to assist with developing the 2024 Middletown Master Plan. The planning process will span approximately 12 months, with various community engagement opportunities occurring throughout the process. The process will occur in three phases, which include an analysis of Middletown’s existing conditions, drafting of the element chapters and recommendations, and the revised and final Master Plan.

A Master Plan subcommittee has been formed, comprised of seven members who will meet regularly with the Planning Consultant Team to guide and provide feedback as the plan develops. The subcommittee is supposed to report the residents' desires to the Middletown Planning Board.

The Subcommittee will also review the draft and final Master Plan. All the Subcommittee members:

• Tony Mercantante, Township Administrator
• Tara Berson, Communications Director
• Amy Citrano, Director of Planning
• David Merces, Chairman, Planning Board
• Carl Rathjen, Vice Chair, Planning Board
• Roseann Eteson, Member, Planning Board
• Vlad Berson, Member, Planning Board

Here is a 12-month timeline of how the Middletown Master Plan will be developed:

• Project Initiation, Data Review December 2023 - January 2024
• Draft Plan January 2024 - June 2024
• Stakeholder & Community Engagement February 2024 - June 2024
• Final Plan & Adoption July 2024 - November 2024

The Master Plan roadmap will guide planning decisions "reflecting our community's vision, goals and recommendations for the economic, social, physical, environmental and fiscal development of Middletown," said the Township in a statement.

"It will serve as a crucial tool for our elected officials and decision-makers, offering clear guidance for decisions related to land use, zoning and capital investments."

The Middletown community’s active involvement is an essential pillar of this process.