Proposed Rezoning for Perth Amboy’s

Downtown and Waterfront

September 2017
Where we are in the process
• Project kick-off - June 2015
Meetings and Site Tours with City officials

• Steering Committee Meeting, Presentation of Code Analysis

and Approach to Re-zoning - September 2015

• Stakeholder meetings and coordination meetings with

Redevelopment Plan update – October-December 2015

• Steering Committee Meeting, Draft Re-Zoning document

review – February 2016

• Presentation to Planning Board – January 2017

• Public Hearing - Today

Over the duration of the project we heard from:
• The Public
• Steering Committee made up of representatives from:
• Perth Amboy:
• Planninng
• Redevelopment Agency
• City Council
• Planning Board
• Zoning officer
• Code Enforcement
• Engineering
• Parking Utility
• Office of Recreation
• Middlesex County
• Planning
• Economic Development
• Business Development and Education
• Improvements Authority
• NJ DEP
• NJ Office of Planning Advocacy
• NJ Transit
• Downtown Business Improvement District
Principles of creating a thriving downtown (through zoning)
• Protect existing character of district
• Create a “place” where people want to be!
• Promote a variety of multi-modal transit supportive uses
• Promote residential density
• Create compact development patterns
• Create pedestrian & bicycle friendly environments
• Manage vehicle parking
Principles of Resiliency (through zoning)
Recommendations from the City’s Strategic
Recovery Planning Report(SRPR) and
Getting to Resiliency (GTR) Report:

• On-site Stormwater management

• Minimized stormwater runoff through
green roofs, cisterns, green
infrastructure
• Public environments Stormwater
management
• Minimize stormwater runoff through
bioswales, green infrastructure, rain
gardens
• Where necessary elevating buildings out
of the floodplain
Study Area
Existing Zoning (within Focus Area)
Proposed Zoning Districts
Proposed Zoning DT
Proposed DT Core District
• Permitted use
• Retail
• Restaurants
• A variety of commercial uses
• Multi-family housing
• Hotels
• Work/live craft person studios
• Buildings at the Street
• No front or side yard requirements
• Architectural design recommendations –
variety of building materials, massing, window
style/arrangement is encouraged
• Incentivize green roofs

Site Photo Example

Proposed Zoning C-1A
Proposed C-1A Mixed Use District
• Permitted use
• Retail
• Professional offices
• Multi-family housing
• Art Studios
• Work/Live craft person studios
• Buildings slightly set back from the street

Site Photo
Proposed Zoning
Proposed R-O Multi-Family &
Office District
• Permitted use
• Multi-family housing
• Existing single family housing
• Professional and Medical offices
• Work/live craft person studios R-O
• Buildings at the Street
• No front or side yard requirements
• Architectural design recommendations
– variety of building materials, massing,
window style/arrangement is encouraged

Site Photo Example

Proposed Zoning
Proposed R-P Multi-Family & Park District
• Permitted use
• Multi-family housing
• Existing single family housing R-P
• Municipal uses
• Buildings at the Street
• No front or side yard requirements
• Architectural design recommendations –
variety of building materials, massing, window
style/arrangement is encouraged
• Incentivize green roofs

Site Photo Example

Proposed Zoning
Proposed C-4 Waterfront District
• Permitted use C-4
• Retail
• Restaurants
• Bars
• Art Studios
• Marina Facilities
• Buildings at the Street
• No front or side yard requirements
• Architectural design standards – treatment of
raised portion of elevated buildings to include
articulated columns and be screened

Site Photo

Example
Proposed Zoning
Proposed C-4 Waterfront District

Floodplain
SMI
TH S
T

Site Photo

Site Section
Source: FEMA, Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) revised preliminary January 30, 2015
Proposed Zoning Districts