Boards & Commissions

Plainfield Avenue Redevelopment Plan

This Redevelopment Plan will put the zoning in place to allow for the relocation of the Township’s emergency services facilities (Police, Fire, Office of Emergency Management (OEM), and Rescue Squad / Emergency Management Services (EMS)) to Township-owned property on Plainfield Avenue. The emergency services facilities in the Township are outdated and in need of a centralized, modern facility designed to serve our community for the next century.

Additionally, this Plan is a major component of the redevelopment of downtown and addressing the Township’s affordable housing obligations. The relocation of emergency services will achieve the full-build out of the Tier 1, Phase 1 Redevelopment Plan to revitalize the downtown with a vibrant mix of commercial, inclusionary residential, and recreational opportunities that will grow our local economy, increase tax ratables, and create jobs.

Since 2018 the Township has conducted various needs studies and assessments of emergency services to plan for the relocation and design of a new emergency services facility.

Most recently, from March 2023 to June 2023, Netta Architects conducted various programmatic meetings with the Police Department, Fire Department, OEM, and the Rescue Squad / EMS to update and outline the proposed emergency services facility operational requirements for this Redevelopment Plan. The concept plans prepared by Netta Architects and attached as exhibits within the Plan were drawn and designed based on the programming needs of emergency services. The exhibits prepared by Netta Architects are only conceptual at this time and are subject to further refinement as the site plan and architectural plans are prepared and finalized.

Some of the major Goals and Objectives of this Plan are as follows:

Assemble underutilized tracts of land in need of redevelopment to relocate emergency services from outdated facilities and construct a modern facility that will better serve residents and create opportunities for development within Downtown Scotch Plains.
Replace obsolete and outdated emergency services facilities with a new modern facility designed to serve our community for the next century.
Provide emergency services in one centralized location to create better efficiency and communication between emergency services departments.
Allow emergency services to operate through the transition and during the construction of the new facility to the maximum extent practicable.
Address the Needs Studies conducted by the Township in the design of the new emergency services facility by providing the necessary space for the current and future functionality and needs of each department.
The Redevelopment of these properties will enable the ability for realistic affordable housing opportunities in downtown to address the Township’s unmet need affordable housing obligation as outlined in the Township’s Housing Element and Fair Share Plan dated September 2018.
Preserve any portion of the Redevelopment Area located in Block 3401, Lot 1.01 within the Township’s Conservation Zone that is not used for buildings or impervious coverage as permanent green / open space through programs such as Green Acres or deed restriction.

July 11 – Township Council introduces Redevelopment Plan

July 24 – Planning Board conducts Master Plan Consistency Review

August 8 – Township Council adopts Redevelopment Plan after presentation and public hearing

Click here for the CERTIFIED ord 2023-13 for 2406 and 2416 Plainfield Avenue Redevelopment Plan