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Posted on: March 7, 2023

The Trenton Division of Planning Requests Public Commentary

Second Draft of New Land Development Ordinance Available for Feedback  

Trenton N.J. – The Trenton Division of Planning is requesting comments from the public on the second draft of the new Land Development Ordinance. Residents will have until May 1, 2023, to provide feedback to the Division about this important document.  

The Land Development Ordinance regulates the location, size, and type of structures and uses allowed within Trenton. The LDO also includes basic design standards for new buildings and regulates parking, signs, accessory structures, and landscaping. To make sure that this ordinance serves all Trenton residents, extensive outreach has been done to ensure that residents are aware of the draft and have had the opportunity to give their input

The second draft of the LDO is a redlined document that indicates changes made in response to comments received during the public comment period for the first release. Within the draft, redline strikethrough and underlined text indicate changes from the July 2021 first draft. There is also a new version of the map showing changes from the previous version.  

In May 2022, the Division held a public meeting and publicly reviewed all comments received from the first public comment period, discussing how they would be incorporated into this new draft. With the presentation of this second draft, the public will be able to see how their comments have been incorporated; ensuring that the changes made reflect the public comments accurately. This will also provide one more opportunity for the public to consider whether any further changes are needed. After the conclusion of the commentary period, the Planning Division will again review all comments received at a Planning Board meeting to discuss how those comments will be incorporated into a final draft.  

“I urge the public to give feedback on this important planning initiative, ensuring that their voices are heard in the process. It is my hope that Trenton residents will be able to see a community that reflects them, and their future needs,” said Mayor Gusciora.  

The proposed LDO outlines six major changes from the current ordinance 

  • Responsive Zoning District Structure: The LDO’s updated district structure better fits the character of the City and works to implement the community vision adopted in Trenton250. An updated Zoning Map has been created based upon careful consideration of future development, as well as on-the-ground conditions and community input.  
  • Modern Use Approach: New and updated rules for what can be done in each district are now organized within a single source, making it easier to see permissible locations and uses for each type of property.  
  • Updated Site Element Standards: Landscaping and signs are important visual and aesthetic elements, and they play a big role on how a city is perceived. Enhanced landscaping requirements and new sign permissions have been comprehensively addressed within the proposed LDO.  
  • A Realistic Approach to Parking: A big change in the proposed LDO is the elimination of arbitrary minimum parking requirements in most instances, basing the parking requirements on the demand for the site.   
  • Required Bicycle Parking: The proposed LDO requires bicycle parking for certain uses and developments and addresses required amounts and designs of bicycle parking areas.  
  • Prioritizing Sustainability: The regulations encourage true mixed-use neighborhoods, reducing the need for daily car use. Paved surface limits are included in the residential districts to help mitigate stormwater and heat island impacts. Electric vehicle parking spaces, solar panels and private wind turbines have been included. The LDO also contains exterior lighting controls on private property to help minimize light pollution in the City. Landscape and tree preservation requirements are also included to beautify the City and create valuable green infrastructure.  

To review the draft in full, and to give feedback, please visit trenton250ldoupdate.com. The public will have until May 1, 2023, to provide comments to the Division of Planning.  

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