INITIAL PLAN ENDORSEMENT PETITION

TOWNSHIP OF BRICK

FEBRUARY 2006

Prepared by: Division of Land Use & Planning

401 Chambers Bridge Road

Brick, NJ 08723

Revised 3/13, 2005

Township of Brick

Petition for Plan Endorsement

The Township of Brick is hereby submitting a petition for Plan Endorsement to the Office of Smart Growth. A Pre-petition meeting was held on September 27, 2005. Lists of the documents submitted at the time of the pre-petition meeting are listed herein:

· Resolution requesting Pre-petition meeting, July 26,2005

· 2005 Capital Program February 10, 2005

· Municipal Cross-Acceptance Comments, November 18, 2004

· Amendment to the Housing Element & Fair Share Plan, May 9, 2002

· Re-Examination Report, August 9, 2000

· Open Space & Recreation Plan, July 2000

· Master Plan Update, 1997

· Proposed Land Use Plan Map, 1997

· Zoning Map, October 1980

· Schedule of Area, Yard & Building Requirements

· Master Plan, 1988, and corresponding maps including:

o 1990 Functional Classification of Roads

o Road Jurisdiction

o County Road Right-of-Way widths

o Proposed Garden State Parkway Interchange and Access Road

o Ocean County Transportation Plan

o Existing Community Facilities

o Fire Protection

INITIAL PLAN ENDORSEMENT PETITION REQUIREMENTS

In addition to the documents provided above, we offer the following information and documents to satisfy the Initial Plan Endorsement Petition Requirements:

√ Master Plan, including all required elements:

In addition to the master plan elements included above, we also have included:

Housing Element and Fair Share Plan – Adopted 12/7/2005 – 10 hard copy

Stormwater Management Plan – Adopted 8/10/2005 – 10 hard copy

Community Forestry Management Plan – 2003-2007 – digital – 1 hard copy

Master Plan Element Drafts -Anticipated Adoption– Summer 2006

Conservation & Open Space Element Draft - digital – 1 hard copy

Utility Plan Element Draft – digital – 1 hard copy

Historic Plan Element Draft – digital – 1 hard copy

Community Facilities Map – 10 hard copy

Recreation Plan Element Draft – digital – 1 hard copy

Reexamination of Circulation and Transportation Element Draft – 10 hard copy

Additional Document Submissions

Board of Education Five Year Facilities Plan – 10 hard copy

Neighborhood Preservation Plan Documents – 10 hard copy

Urban Environmental Inventory – digital – 1 hard copy

Build-Out Analysis w/ Developable Vacant Land Mapping – digital – 1 hard

copy

Tax Maps - digital

The Township of Brick is providing herein, its submission of statements, policies and materials for Initial Pan Endorsement. Due to scheduling conflicts, a resolution from the governing body and proof of public notice and participation is forthcoming at a later date as an amendment to this submission.

We offer the following information for submission for Initial Plan Endorsement as outlined in the Plan Endorsement Guidelines, Approved by the State Planning Commission, April 28, 2004.

√Statement regarding any proposed changes to the State Plan Policy Map

The Township of Brick submitted statements regarding proposed changes to the State Plan Policy map in the Township of Brick, Ocean County, ,NJ, NJ State Development & Redevelopment Plan Cross Acceptance Report - Municipal Profile Comments prepared by the Office of Land Use, on November 18, 2004. Those comments are listed below:

Proposed Changes in Planning Areas

In review of the mapping, we have some concerns relative to the PA5 designation to areas that are currently developed, particularly in the area east of the Garden State Parkway. A review of the State Mapping clearly shows fully developed areas designated as PA5. Perhaps this is due to mapping inaccuracies.

Many of the preserved areas and parklands that the Township has acquired within the past five to ten years are not reflected on the map and need to be added and designated as such. We have the ability to provide mapping digitally if needed. We have enclosed a GIS Map showing all publicly owned park and conservation lands and a corresponding listing of the parcels’ blocks and lots.

In addition, we would like to see consistency with areas mapped as Freshwater Wetlands on the NJ Freshwater Wetlands Map as either PA5 or Critical Environmental Sites and areas that are now subject to the C1 Surface Water Quality Standards, shown as such.

Town Center

During the Plan Endorsement process the Township of Brick will work with the Office of Smart Growth to re-establish a Town Center within the boundaries of the recently expired CAFRA Coastal Town Center. It was determined that a Town Center was the most appropriate Center designation for the area in question as it is consistent with the Township’s zoning relative to impervious coverage requirements and complies with most of the State Plan criteria for a Town Center. This is the only Center being proposed at this time.

The Center will be referred to as the Chambers Bridge Road/Route 88 Town Center. The Center encompasses an area of approximately .4 square miles beginning at the northerly extent of Chambers Bridge Road, abutting the Garden State Parkway. The Center area travels south on Chambers Bridge Road covering the land area on both sides of the road from the Cedar Bridge Branch to the Forge Pond area to a point at the Route 70 intersection. The Center then moves east on the north side of Route 70 to the intersection of Route 88. The Center area then travels northwest on Route 88 to the intersection of Jack Martin Boulevard and includes the land area between West Princeton Avenue , Jack Martin Boulevard and Route 70.

The Center’s boundaries are defined by natural and man-made features. In the Chambers Bridge Road section of the Center the northern Boundary is the Garden State Parkway, the western boundary is the Cedar Bridge Branch of the Metedeconk River, the eastern boundary is the buffer area of Forge Pond and the southern boundary is Route 70. The Route 88 section of the Center is bound by Jack Martin Boulevard to the north and east, West Princeton Avenue to the west and Route 70 to the south. The two areas are joined by a small section of Route 70.

The Chambers Bridge Road Route 88 Town Center if a fairly compact mix of uses. Along Chambers Road the Center contains the Brick Municipal Building (including the police and municipal court), the Civic Plaza, the County Library, Brick High School, Ocean County Vocational School, the Primary Learning Center, the Post Office, the Housing Authority(including 480 affordable age restricted units) ,an ice rink, Forge Pond County Golf Course, a regional shopping center, a mix of out-dated office and retail uses and two residential neighborhoods consisting of a total of 590 Single family dwellings. The Route 70 section includes a Church and Parochial School, a 10 acre site acquired by the Township that contains an abandoned 90,000 sq. ft. retail building that abuts Forge Pond and several mid-sized retail buildings. The Route 88 section of the Center contains the Township’s Hospital Support Zone. The Hospital Support Zone has been a corner stone of economic growth over the past 15 years. The Hospital support Zone contains the Ocean Medical Center, the VA Hospital, two nursing homes, three assisted living facilities and several large Medical/Office complexes. In addition to the Hospital Support Zone is a Costco Wholesale Warehouse, the Jersey Paddler (Canoe and Kayak sales and rentals), small to mid-sized office and retail uses and three small residential neighborhoods totaling 128 single family dwellings on lots of less than a ¼ of an acre plus a small garden apartment building. The Center area reflects a high level of public investment and services.

Although the Chambers Bridge/Route 88 Center is only serviced by limited mass transit, in the form of pass through NJ Transit bus service, it is traversed by three arterial roadways, two of which are State Highways. In addition, many of the Township’s senior developments provide bus service to shopping areas, the Medical Center and various municipal services within the Center. Also, the Chambers Bridge Road section of the Center is pedestrian friendly as it has continuous sidewalks for its full length. The majority of the Center’s resident population of two thousand six hundred people resides in the Chambers Bridge Road section and makes regular use of the sidewalk areas for access to the High School, other public services and retail areas. In all, the Center area is easily accessible and surrounded by a mix of housing types capable of providing adequate housing to support the commercial and office uses in the center. The jobs-housing ratio is approximately 3-1. The Center currently supports a population of approximately 2,600 persons in a 0.4 mile area, exceeding the State Plan Center requirement of a center supporting 5,000 persons per square mile. The Center area as well as the whole of the Township of Brick is serviced by the Ocean County Waste Water Treatment Facility and has more than adequate infrastructure to support new infill development. The entire Center area is also serviced by the Brick Township Municipal Utility Authority for potable drinking water. The Center area is subject to the Township of Brick’s Municipal Stormwater Control Ordinance and will be able to support the infill of new commercial development relative to stormwater controls.

The Center also comprises a major employment center within the Township. The Townships three largest employers are located within the Center. Over three hundred and fifty people are employed at the municipal building, three hundred and five people are employed at Brick High School and the Primary Learning Center and one thousand three hundred people are employed at Ocean Medical Center.

There are six vacant or under-developed parcels within the Center. These properties account for approximately fifty-six acres. Of those fifty-six acres approximately thirty acres involving two of the six sites have received recent development approvals. However, there are a number of outdated uses, sites and systems in the Center that the Township anticipates to be candidates for planned redevelopment involving public participation.

Through the Township’s present Master Plan update and the township’s concurrent participation in Ocean County’s Regional Smart Growth Plan and the State’s Plan Endorsement process a strategic planning effort is in place that will focus on the redevelopment of the designated Center area and identify public and private sources to facilitate the fulfillment of policy objectives for the planning area.

√ Statement of Planning Coordination

The Township of Brick has been involved in coordinated planning efforts with adjoining municipalities, counties and organizations to provide consistency with land use, open space and recreation planning and the protection of potable water supply sources. These initiatives serve to span the greater regional areas that include the borders of the municipality including the Manasquan River Watershed, the Metedeconk River Watershed and the Barnegat Bay. Included herein is a summary of the coordinated planning efforts completed or currently underway:

1. Northern Bay Corridor Regional Study, currently being conducted by the Ocean County Planning Board. Ocean County received a Smart Future Grant from the NJDCA, OSG, to study 12 municipalities in northern Ocean County. The main objective of the study was in preparation for Plan Endorsement. This study is being prepared in an effort to assist the study area municipalities in their Plan Endorsement efforts, this study serves as a resource to study area municipalities in that it will provide much of the regional background material, mapping and analyses that are required as part of the Plan Endorsement process. As a participant in this study, the Township of Brick completed a build-out analysis, evaluated current zoning and is in the process of updating master plan elements including the Housing Element and Fair Share Plan and the Stormwater Management Plan.

2. The Township of Brick participated as a team leader in the Source Water Stewardship Project being conducted by the Trust for Public Land and funded by a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Other project partners included the University of Massachusetts and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service. The purpose of the project was to demonstrate the use of land conservation and forest management practices to protect drinking water supplies. The Township of Brick coordinated efforts with Ocean and Monmouth Counties and served as the main outreach coordinator with the municipalities within the watershed. A description of the watershed project is included herein:

The Metedeconk River Watershed was one of four pilot watersheds along the eastern seaboard chosen to participate in the project. The project is locally led and driven by a steering committee comprised of representatives from the Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority, Brick Township, Freehold Soil Conservation District, and Monmouth and Ocean Counties.

The Source Water Stewardship Project was conducted in three phases: analysis and assessment, stewardship exchange, and implementation. The released report is the basis of this implementation phase. For more information or to download a copy of the report, visit www.tpl.org/landandwater.

The report urges the watershed community to act immediately to manage its water resources and to establish a forum to coordinate water resource planning and protection efforts among jurisdictions and stakeholders.

The Metedeconk River and its tributaries flow through Freehold, Howell, Millstone, and Wall townships in Monmouth County, and Brick, Lakewood, and Jackson townships in Ocean County. It is the primary source of water for the Brick Township Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA), which provides drinking water to the residents of Brick Township, Point Pleasant Borough, and Point Pleasant Beach Borough. In an effort to increase its storage capacity and plan for future water supply needs, the Brick MUA has completed a one billion-gallon reservoir. The reservoir's water will also be drawn from the Metedeconk River.

Upstream communities in the watershed rely on groundwater for their water supply, but groundwater and surface water are closely linked in this region due to the underlying geology and soil characteristics. The report makes clear the interconnectedness of groundwater and surface water supplies.

The report's recommendations included:

· Act immediately to manage water resources;

· Establish coordinated leadership to manage the watershed as a shared resource;

· Understand the watershed-create a shared understanding of watershed functioning and threats in order to inform and support sound land protection and management strategies;

· Educate-create an informed, involved and influential public;

· Protect and restore critical natural land;

· Manage growth-direct growth to minimize impact on the environment; and

· Fund conservation and restoration strategies-create and sustain dedicated funding.

A central theme in the report is the need to manage sprawl and channel growth away from environmentally sensitive areas. It also addresses the potential benefits of Low Impact Development (LID) design strategies.

The release of the Source Water Stewardship Exchange Team Report comes when water resource protection is getting significant attention at the state and local levels. Designation of the Metedeconk River and its tributaries as Category One (C1) waterways, the highest level of protection afforded to waterways in the state has been implemented. While the C1 designation will control impacts to water quality, it does not to address water quantity issues.

3. In addition, the Township of Brick has coordinated efforts with the Board of Education to provide for a more efficient use of recreational lands to provide facilities for sporting activities, including the multi-purpose fields at the Drum Point Sports Complex, where Board of Education property was used to develop municipal amenities including fields and buildings for baseball, soccer, football and multi-purpose facilities.

The Township of Brick anticipates potential conflict with its vision with projected planning and regulator efforts by the Council on Affordable Housing regarding its assignment of the Growth Share Calculation. The Township of Brick calculated its build-out analysis to determine the amount of available land for development and disagrees with the MPO assignment of 602 affordable units. The methodology of the build-out analysis and determination of the growth share number at build-out is provided in the Township of Brick Housing Element and Fair Share Plan included herein.

√ Planning and Implementation Agreement

The Township of Brick will work to achieve Plan Endorsement through The Planning and Implementation Agreement (PIA). The Township of Brick will outline a variety of goals to be implemented through coordination with State agencies including the NJDEP, NJDOT and NJDCA.

Goals:

NJDOT

· The Township of Brick, where applicable, will explore, the appropriateness of developing Access Management Plans for pertinent sections of state highways, as provided for in the State highway Access Management Code at N.J.A.C. 16:47-6.1 et. Seq.

· The Township of Brick will pursue funding to provide a comprehensive plan to provide pedestrian linkages between schools and residential neighborhoods through the Safe Routes to School program.

· The Township of Brick will seek funding to improve problem areas that are identified through the Reexamination of the Circulation and Transportation Element.

· The Township of Brick will adopt the reexamination of the Transportation and Circulation Plan Element of the Master Plan to implement the projects set forth in that document for consistency with regional and state plans.

· The Township of Brick will pursue connections along County roadways for bicycles and pedestrians to recreational areas, schools, neighborhoods and commercial areas to reduce traffic congestion.

· The Township of Brick will pursue coordination between County and State agencies to better synchronize signals at inter-jurisdictional intersections.

· The Township of Brick, within two years of its petition for Plan Endorsement, will review zoning and all existing development along the State Highways within the Township to determine consistency with the NJDOT Highway Access Management Code.

· The Township of Brick, within two years of its petition for Plan Endorsement, will amend its Zoning Ordinances to state that the Township will not approve any subdivisions fronting on a State Highway that will create future nonconforming lots as defined by the Access Code and will require conformance with the NJDOT Highway Access Management Code for all new development projects requiring local Board approvals.

NJDEP

· The Township of Brick will explore the possibility of re-establishing the CAFRA Coastal Center Designation, where approved previously. The Township may also consider reducing the previously approved area.

· The Township of Brick will revise mapping to clearly identify areas for threatened, endangered and priority species to be consistent with the Landscape Project rather than utilizing the generalized Habitat Map found in the Conservation and Open Space Plan Draft.

· The Township of Brick will explore the possibility of adopting, where applicable, a Stream Corridor Protection Ordinance.

· The Township of Brick will also explore adopting a Well Head Protection Ordinance.

· The Township of Brick will investigate a Steep Slope Ordinance in areas of Coastal Bluffs.

· The Township of Brick will consider re-zoning property currently held under Green Acres restrictions as conservation parcels to reduce possibility of encroachment of these areas by adjacent uses.

NJDCA – Office of Smart Growth

· The Township of Brick will pursue the identification of redevelopment areas in the master plan and seek funding from the NJDCA for an examination of these areas for redevelopment projects.

· The Township of Brick will seek assistance from the Office of Smart Growth to determine identification of growth areas that are consistent with the State Plan growth areas.

· The Township of Brick will explore amendments to the draft elements of the master plan and all applicable land use ordinances to be consistent with the State Plan.

· The Township of Brick will pursue a change to the State Plan Policy Map for the approval of a Town Center within the boundaries of the previously approved NJDEP CAFRA Coastal Town Center.

√ Present and Future Population, Households and Employment Projections –

Present and future population, households and employment projections can be found in the Housing Element and Fair Share Plan under said titles.

√ Existing population, households and estimated job opportunities as indicated in the Census 2000 and Department of Labor Statistics; pg. 13, 17 of Population Growth & Projection Element; pg. 5, 6, 7, & 10 of Housing Element & Fair Share Plan

√ Growth or decline of population, households and employment over the last 20 years as indicated by the trends in Census 2000 data; pg. 1-4 of Population Growth & Projection Element

√ State and county projections for local population, household and employment for the horizon year 2025 and an analysis of differences with local projections, if any; pg. 9 of Population & Projection Element & Housing Element & Fair Share Plan, pgs.11-16 & 20-25

√Future growth targets – The Township of Brick contests the MPO population and employment projections as stated in the Cross Acceptance report however agrees with the areas of growth identified by the State Plan as Planning Area 2. The Township of Brick conducted a Build-Out Analysis with mapping to demonstrate areas available for development, thus identified as Growth Areas.

√ Municipal growth targets are aligned with county and regional growth targets, and identified to be located along major state and county roadways in Planning Area 2 locations including the areas identified in the Draft Northern Bay Corridor Strategic Plan.

√ The Township of Brick Housing Element and Fair Share Plan have been submitted to courts for third round substantive certification, municipal residential and employment growth targets should be consistent with growth projections submitted to COAH and should include ten-year projections of probable residential and employment growth.

NOTE : The above information is included in draft elements of the master plan, therefore can be included, altered or changed to provide consistency with the State Plan requirements prior to adoption.

√Existing Land Use Inventory and/or Zoning Maps

√ A map or aerial depicting existing land uses

Provided in hard copy at pre-petition meeting

√Current zoning map

Provided in hard copy at pre-petition meeting

√Community Facilities Map –

Provided in hard copy

√ CAFRA Coastal Center Map –

Provided in hard copy

√Existing and proposed affordable housing sites in a Housing Element and Fair Share Plan currently before or certified by the Council on Affordable Housing, if applicable.

Provided in Housing Element and Fair Share Plan

√ Digital municipal block and lot data

Provided digitally on CD

√ Natural Resource Inventory

The Township of Brick’s Natural Resource Inventory (Greenbelt Study) was completed in 1980, however, updates to this report, including all of the necessary elements and information can be found in the Urban Environmental Inventory, 2000 Open Space and Recreation Plan, Stormwater Management Plan and the proposed Conservation and Open Space Element Draft, expected to be adopted on August 10, 2005. Copies of these documents are provided herein in digital and hard copy.

√ Habitat for threatened, endangered and priority species, including critical habitat as defined under CAFRA; areas identified as necessary to protect, sustain or restore plant or animal populations identified in state or federal recovery or management plans; Provided in the Conservation & Open Space Element Draft, pg. 12 – Habitat Map

√ Areas of critical water supply concern including but not limited to important water supply areas, Category 1 drainage areas, wellhead protection areas, aquifer recharge areas, source water protection areas and shellfish transition or buffer areas defined under Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act and coastal wetlands act; Maps H & I of the Stormwater Management Plan

√Wetlands defined under Freshwater Wetlands Protection Act and coastal wetlands: Map E of the Stormwater Management Plan

√ Open space, public lands, including natural areas and private conservation areas or wildlife refuges, and conservation easements, including those entered pursuant to the farmland preservation program; Provided in the Open Space & Recreation Plan - 2000

√ Natural features such as steep slopes (including coastal bluffs), beaches and dunes, geology, soils, forest cover, and hydrography, including Wild and Scenic River data

Provided in the Conservation & Open Space Element Draft – Habitat Map

√Watershed boundaries (HUC 14) – Provided in the Stormwater Management Plan Map B and individual watershed mapping in the Urban Environmental Inventory

√ Critical Environmental Sites as identified by the State Planning Commission – Planning Area 5 designation on the State Planning Map – consistent with the proposed Open Space Preservation areas identified in the Open Space & Recreation Plan Map - 2000

2). ADDITIONAL MUNICIPAL PETITION REQUIREMENTS

Municipal Environmental Justice Inventory will be provided by NJDEP for compliance with the initial plan endorsement petition submission requirements.

The Department of Environmental Protection will provide all municipal petitioners with an inventory of the following sites that are known to either emit pollution or be contaminated, for reference, review and consideration during comprehensive planning efforts.

�Facilities that submit a Release and Pollution Prevention Report under the Worker and Community Right to Know Act 34:5A and the Worker and Community Right to Know Regulations N.J.A.C. 7:1G;

�Facilities that submit an Emission Statement under the Air Pollution Control Act N.J.S.A. 26:2C-1 to –25.2 and N.J.A.C. 7:27-21;

� Facilities regulated under the Toxic Catastrophe Prevention Act (TCPA), N.J.S.A. 13:1K-19 to –35 and N.J.A.C 7:31;

�Facilities regulated under Spill Compensation and Control Act N.J.S.A. 58:10-23.11 and the Discharge Prevention Control and Countermeasure Regulations (DPCC) N.J.A.C.7:1E;

�Hazardous Waste Treatment Storage and Disposal (TSD) facilities under the Solid Waste Management Act 13:1E-1–48 and the Hazardous Waste Regulations N.J.A.C. 7:26G;

� Brownfields, as defined by Brownfield and Contaminated Site Remediation Act, N.J.S.A. 58:10B-1 et. seq.; and

� The Known Contaminated Sites, as identified on the Department of Environmental Protection Known Contaminated Site List.

√ Housing

Municipal petitioners must submit the following housing components as part of the required housing element of the master plan:

√Provide information describing the existing availability and opportunities to create diverse housing opportunities, including affordable housing;

The Township of Brick is proud of its effort to provide a diverse housing stock that includes affordable units. We have partnered with non-profits and other governmental entities to provide housing to persons with disabilities, seniors, victims of domestic violence and the homeless in addition to encouraging growth of single-family residential housing where infrastructure exists to support it. We will continue with this commitment well beyond our third round obligation to provide affordable housing opportunities. A description of these past efforts and the goals for the future can be found in the Housing Element & Fair Share Plan pg. 1 & 15

√Provide information that demonstrates a commitment to plan for housing that is appropriate to the scale, capacity and environmental resources of the community, including opportunities for affordable housing;

The Township of Brick has taken steps to ensue that housing within the Township is appropriate to scale, capacity and environmental resources by amending its zoning setback requirements and building coverage on residential lots to limit the setbacks to waterways to be consistent with CAFRA and to reduce the amount of impervious cover allowed on residential lots. In addition, the Township maintains low density zoning of environmentally sensitive lands to ensure minimal impacts to surrounding sensitive and critical habitat. Affordable housing sites are evaluated for their impact upon surrounding communities and are typically situated as infill development of residential neighborhoods through scattered site developments or concentrated developments in areas that are accessible to transportation and employment. Additional information can be found in the Housing Element & Fair Share Plan pg. 21-26

√Provide information on how residential zoning looks to create a coordinated planning effort by creating linkages to other neighborhoods and business centers such as; bike and pedestrian pathways and sidewalks.

The Township of Brick primarily zones commercial and business uses along arterial or major roadways with residential zoning located behind those areas, providing for opportunities to link these uses at intersections. Although, the County of Ocean has a policy of not providing sidewalks along county roadways, the Zoning Board of Adjustment and the Planning Board strictly adhere to the Township’s ordinance requirement to provide sidewalks for any minor and major sub-division and site plan development. In addition, the Township has a state-of-the-art bike trail system that is planned to connect schools, neighborhoods and recreational areas through sidewalks, bike trails and pathways. A copy of the Bicycle Trails Plan can be found in the Recreation Element Draft.

√ Transportation

√Circulation Plan

The Transportation Element of the Master Plan was last adopted August 3, 1988. A draft update of this element is provided herein and anticipated to be adopted in the summer of 2006. A copy of the draft Reexamination of the Circulation and Transportation Element, dated August 21, 2003 is provided herein.

√Compliance State Highway Access Management Code at C.40:55D-62d.

The Township of Brick is traversed by NJSR 88, NJSR 35 and NJSR 70. Due to this inter-jurisdictional condition, the Township defers regulation of highway access to the NJDOT for regulation of access along these roadways. As a matter of management, the Township employs a Traffic Engineer for reviews of all applications involving access along municipal, county, and state roadways. In addition, the Township of Brick’s land use ordinance currently contains a provision under Section 190-240F-8. All other approvals and permits required by law or regulation are obtained and copies submitted to the Land Use Office, including but not limited to the Ocean County Board of Health, Ocean County Planning Board, NJ Department of Transportation, and the Ocean County Soil Conservation District, if applicable to the application.

The intent of this provision and a standard adopted in all land use board resolutions of approvals a provision requiring all NJDOT approvals prior to the issuance of building permits for any application is to comply with the State Highway Access Management Code. If required, the Township of Brick will formally adopt an ordinance specifically requiring this provision.

There are obviously developments that were approved within the Township on State Highways prior to the adoption of the Highway Access code that do not meet the Access Code requirements. The Township will undertake a study of regulated developments along the aforementioned State Highways within its jurisdiction to determine the level of compliance with the Access Code and provide the Office of Smart Growth with its findings. As required, within two years of this petition, the Township of Brick will amend its current zoning to require all development applications regulated by the NJDOT to be in conformance with the applicable requirements of the State’s Highway Access Management Code.

√Compliance with the Airport Safety Zoning Act, as required by the MLUL, C.40:55D-28b(2)(c).

The Township of Brick does not have a public use airport.

√ Infrastructure

√The Utility Plan Element is provided herein. It is anticipated to be adopted in the summer of 2006.

√ The Township of Brick Stormwater Management Plan was adopted on 8/10/2005 and is provided herein.

√ Copy of or status report on Agriculture Retention Plan, and County Comprehensive Farmland Preservation Plan or Municipal Farmland Preservation Plan, if available

The Township of Brick does not have any active farmland and therefore does not have a farmland preservation plan.

REQUIREMENTS FOR COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL PETITIONERS

Copy of adopted Master plan and any amendment including all master plan required elements and date of adoption;

The status of the Township of Brick Master Plan elements are as follows:

√ Open Space Plan – Adopted August 2000, updated periodically with the most recent update completed in 2004 to add properties to Planning Incentive Program through Mapping.

Submitted for Pre-petition meeting

√Transportation/Circulation Plan – The current plan was adopted in 1987 Master Plan, a draft update is included in this submission including studies and recommendations relative to current traffic concerns. It is anticipated that this element will be adopted in the summer of 2006.

√Neighborhood Preservation Plan – The Township of Brick currently has an area of the municipality funded under HUD and manages this program as a Neighborhood Preservation Program. A summary of that plan and its work plan for years one through four is provided herein.

√ Master Plan Reexamination Report adopted on August 9, 2000

Submitted for Pre-petition meeting

√ 2001 Board of Education Five year facilities plan summary included in this submission. Updated facilities plan is expected to be completed by the summer of 2006.

√ The June 9, 2000 Master Plan Reexamination report was prepared with the benefit of knowledge that all elements of the existing 1997 Master Plan were currently being redrafted and that new elements were to be included in the 2006 plan. Those draft elements are provided herein.

√The Township of Brick has complied with current and future planning and regulatory activities related to Municipal Land Use Law requirements including master plan reexamination and adoption, adoption of Housing Element and Fair Share Plan, adoption of Stormwater Management Plan and related ordinances, in addition to the Municipal Stormwater Rule.

√ 2005 Capital Improvement Program included in the pre-petition submissions

√ Statement of Community Vision and Public Participation

√ Public Participation

The Township of Brick has complied with the public participation requirements for the preparation and adoption of the Master Plan and its individual elements as set forth in the State Planning Rules5:85-1.6 Public participation, the Municipal Land Use Law 40:55D-13 Notice Concerning Master Plan, and the Sunshine Law- Open Public Meetings Act, N.J.S.A. 10:4-6 et seq.

√ Community Vision

Vision statements may describe a future of the municipality, county, or region in 20 years as it relates to land development, redevelopment, preservation and conservation of resources, transportation, economic growth, housing diversity and affordability, the provision of public facilities and intergovernmental coordination.

While the Township of Brick has not formally entered into the “Visioning Process”, many of the descriptions relative to the future of the municipality can be found within the Master Plan elements and in the short term planning initiatives that are on-going within the Municipality. In lieu of a formal Visioning Statement we offer the following description of the future of the Township of Brick:

The Township of Brick is currently 97% built-out as reported in the recent build-out analysis; therefore, it is incumbent upon the municipality to examine current land uses and identify areas where infrastructure and natural areas can be re-developed, improved, augmented and protected. It is the goal of the municipality to maintain the suburban residential character of the many neighborhoods, while protecting its coastal resources and enhancing commercial corridors. The Township has a variety of commercial corridors that have seen a movement towards redevelopment over the past ten years. The Township is in the process of identifying other commercial areas that are in need of redevelopment with an emphasis on façade improvements, parking lot upgrades, landscaping and stormwater controls. In addition, these areas are also in the process of being identified for potential pedestrian access improvements including more mass transportation and sidewalk additions.

The Township of Brick is a leader in the preservation and conservation of natural resources. Approximately 3,000 acres of open space and recreational lands are presently preserved, protected, or developed for recreational uses. The five-year plan of the municipality for additional preservation, as outlined in the Open Space and Recreation Plan of 2000, has been moving forward as the municipality continues to pursue additional funding to purchase available lands. This movement will continue into the future as the Township has a commitment to preserve environmentally sensitive parcels and provide state-of-the-art recreational facilities for the residents.

Transportation is an endemic problem within the Township of Brick, as in many suburbanized municipalities within Ocean and Monmouth Counties. The Township has approximately 400 miles of roadway under its jurisdiction; however it is also traversed by Ocean County and State of New Jersey roadways. The inter-jurisdictional condition of our roadways causes many difficulties when faced with circulation improvements, traffic signal timing, roadway improvements, sidewalk connections and overall traffic planning. The Township has been working with each of these agencies to coordinate; however, budgetary constraint, other planning projects and inconsistency in goals of each agency have proved difficult at best. The Township envisions better coordinated efforts to improve circulation and upgrade existing roadways to provide for better movement throughout the municipality for automobiles as well as pedestrians.

The future economic growth in the municipality will be driven by the re-development of commercial centers and the recruitment of additional national retail and restaurants to the Township. We are fortunate to have a diverse inventory of national retail establishments that have made roots in the Township in our commercial areas. However, more re-development can occur at our older commercial centers including the K-Mart Plaza located on Rt. 88 and Rt.70 in addition to re-development of smaller commercial and office buildings located along Rt. 88 west and east. The Township is exploring re-development zoning and planning areas to encourage revitalization of these areas with a mix of uses, pedestrian facilities and the integration of streetscaping to soften the built-out appearance of these areas and make them more aesthetically pleasing.

Housing diversity and affordability have been an integral part of the planning for the future of the Township since the first cycle of the Council of Affordable Housing rules were implemented in the 1990’s. The Township continues to work towards building affordable units with a mix of rental units, senior housing, first time home buyer assistance and homes for the developmentally and emotionally handicapped. We will continue to foster partnerships into the mid-century to ensure our population has the opportunities necessary to find fair, affordable housing.

The development of public facilities is at the cornerstone of the municipality’s commitment to providing unparalleled services to its residents. Services and recreational amenities are one of the driving factors that bring homeowners to the Township of Brick along with a stable and efficient school system. The Township is embarking on the development of a community center to provide recreational amenities and services to the young and old in addition to developing a state-of-the-art waterfront park and marina at the mouth of the Barnegat Bay. This type of commitment to the citizens of the Township of Brick will continue and expand upon as the municipality approaches 2025. Intergovernmental coordination is pursued on all levels of the development of public facilities from the utilization of public funds through the Green Acres Program at NJDEP, for park development and open space preservation to the expansion of the Ocean County Public Library at Brick. We have a record of coordination for a variety of projects; however, coordination needs to be improved upon when the issue of traffic and roadway improvements is at hand.

The Township of Brick trusts that the information provided herein with the attached documents meets the requirements for Initial Plan Endorsement Completeness.