Vision Plan
In 2008-2009, South Orange Village worked with Boston-based planning and design firm, The Cecil Group, to lay a foundation for how the Village’s three business districts should evolve over the next 10-20 years.
Smart Growth Principles
The Downtown Vision Plan is modeled after New Jersey’s “Smart Growth” principles, which support mixed-use development, walkable town centers, mass transit accessibility, sustainable development and preserved green space. Similar plans have been created and implemented in nearby towns. The completed Downtown Vision Plan highlights what makes South Orange unique and distinguishes it from other communities.
Smart Growth Principles
The Downtown Vision Plan is modeled after New Jersey’s “Smart Growth” principles, which support mixed-use development, walkable town centers, mass transit accessibility, sustainable development and preserved green space. Similar plans have been created and implemented in nearby towns. The completed Downtown Vision Plan highlights what makes South Orange unique and distinguishes it from other communities.
Community Conversation Meetings
Starting October 30, 2008, and continuing into 2009, The Cecil Group held public Community Conversation meetings. It also conducted workshops and interviews with Village government and other stakeholders, including neighborhood, school, business, property owner, historic preservation, open space, clergy, developers, and volunteer group representatives to gather as much information as possible on how South Orange’s business districts should evolve in the future. The process took almost a year to complete, and targeted many issues, including land use and zoning, overall design strategy, traffic patterns, parking, and development in South Orange’s downtown, Irvington Avenue and Valley Street business districts.
Benefits
The Community Conversations, workshops, and interviews, provided residents, business and property owners, and other stakeholders a unique opportunity to participate in the planning process from the ground up.
“One of the many aspects of what makes South Orange such a fantastic town is volunteer resident involvement on so many levels,” according to Village President Douglas Newman. “As residents, we now have a unique opportunity to place our signatures on our Village's future by engaging in this visioning process. Through participation in upcoming Community Conversations, we can harness everyone's talent and collectively steer South Orange toward a bright, vibrant, and environmentally-sustainable future."
Starting October 30, 2008, and continuing into 2009, The Cecil Group held public Community Conversation meetings. It also conducted workshops and interviews with Village government and other stakeholders, including neighborhood, school, business, property owner, historic preservation, open space, clergy, developers, and volunteer group representatives to gather as much information as possible on how South Orange’s business districts should evolve in the future. The process took almost a year to complete, and targeted many issues, including land use and zoning, overall design strategy, traffic patterns, parking, and development in South Orange’s downtown, Irvington Avenue and Valley Street business districts.
Benefits
The Community Conversations, workshops, and interviews, provided residents, business and property owners, and other stakeholders a unique opportunity to participate in the planning process from the ground up.
“One of the many aspects of what makes South Orange such a fantastic town is volunteer resident involvement on so many levels,” according to Village President Douglas Newman. “As residents, we now have a unique opportunity to place our signatures on our Village's future by engaging in this visioning process. Through participation in upcoming Community Conversations, we can harness everyone's talent and collectively steer South Orange toward a bright, vibrant, and environmentally-sustainable future."
For more information on Smart Growth principles and The Cecil Group, visit their website.
Conversation #1
October 30, 2008
7:30 p.m.
South Orange Middle School
Hear from the community about the key development issues and opportunities in the designated area and begin to define our desired future conditions.
Just under 100 people attended the meeting. They were asked to identify their home and about half marked it on a map. The map showed that practically every neighborhood in South Orange
was represented.
The Conversation started with a short presentation followed by people separating into Breakout Groups where the ideas and issues were recorded and then voted on by the attendees. The results are listed by Breakout Group, with each group’s top five concepts presented in Table One. Table Two summarizes the top concepts for the entire workshop and all Breakout Groups. The identification of “special places” in the downtown was also a part of this workshop. These are places that people find scenic or valuable, a site that provides an opportunity for change, or a place that should change because it does not currently represent the vision of South Orange.
These different places were combined from all the groups and are listed in Table Three.
Lastly, the groups created future “headlines” which were to represent the media headlines ten or twenty years from now.
7:30 p.m.
South Orange Middle School
Hear from the community about the key development issues and opportunities in the designated area and begin to define our desired future conditions.
Just under 100 people attended the meeting. They were asked to identify their home and about half marked it on a map. The map showed that practically every neighborhood in South Orange
was represented.
The Conversation started with a short presentation followed by people separating into Breakout Groups where the ideas and issues were recorded and then voted on by the attendees. The results are listed by Breakout Group, with each group’s top five concepts presented in Table One. Table Two summarizes the top concepts for the entire workshop and all Breakout Groups. The identification of “special places” in the downtown was also a part of this workshop. These are places that people find scenic or valuable, a site that provides an opportunity for change, or a place that should change because it does not currently represent the vision of South Orange.
These different places were combined from all the groups and are listed in Table Three.
Lastly, the groups created future “headlines” which were to represent the media headlines ten or twenty years from now.
To receive information or to send feedback, send to the vision plan email.
Conversation 2
December 2, 2008
7:30 p.m.
SOPAC in the Loft
The second conversation will review the alternatives raised and discuss the different concepts and the opportunities and challenges they pose.
7:30 p.m.
SOPAC in the Loft
The second conversation will review the alternatives raised and discuss the different concepts and the opportunities and challenges they pose.
We will post information as they become available.
To receive information or to send feedback, send to the Vision plan email.
Conversation 3
January 7, 2009
7:30 p.m.
Seton Hall University, Jubilee Hall
The third conversation the Cecil Group will present and discuss draft recommendations, which include the recommended vision and preferred approach to achieving it.
7:30 p.m.
Seton Hall University, Jubilee Hall
The third conversation the Cecil Group will present and discuss draft recommendations, which include the recommended vision and preferred approach to achieving it.
We will post information as they become available.
To receive information or to send feedback, send to the Vision plan email.
Conversation 4
April 30, 2009
SOPAC in the Loft (3rd Floor)
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Open House
7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Conversation
During Community Conversation #4, The Cecil Group will present, for review and discussion, a draft of the Vision Plan, encompassing our Downtown, Valley Street, and Irvington Avenue business districts.
SOPAC in the Loft (3rd Floor)
5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Open House
7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Conversation
During Community Conversation #4, The Cecil Group will present, for review and discussion, a draft of the Vision Plan, encompassing our Downtown, Valley Street, and Irvington Avenue business districts.
To receive information or to send feedback, send to our email.
Conversation 5
November 12, 2009
SOPAC in the Loft (3rd Floor)
7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Conversation
Final Community Presentation. To receive information or to send feedback, send to our email.
SOPAC in the Loft (3rd Floor)
7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Conversation
Final Community Presentation. To receive information or to send feedback, send to our email.