Design team's visit focuses on Englishtown's future
Experts to wrap up visit with public presentation at town hall on Oct. 24
BY MARK ROSMAN Staff Writer

ENGLISHTOWN - Residents are being asked to come out and listen to a presentation to be given by a Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) that has been visiting the borough for the past several days.

The team's itinerary will finish up with the presentation of its findings and recommendations on Oct. 24 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. at Borough Hall, Main Street. Members of the public are invited to come and listen to the presentation at which the future of the town will be the primary topic.

According to information provided by Donna Drewes, community planner, Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey, Englishtown was selected by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Center for Communities by Design as one of seven communities nationwide to receive a technical assistance grant under the SDAT program in 2007.

Borough Councilwomen Jayne Carr and Lori Cooke in partnership with the Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey submitted the successful application. Upon receiving the grant, Englishtown formed the SDAT Steering Committee to coordinate the event. The AIA Sustainable Design Assessment Team community assistance program conducted its official visit to Englishtown between Oct. 22-24.

At a series of meetings held over the past few days, the team members asked residents, businesses, agencies, schools and regional organizations to participate in the community planning and visioning event. The following topics were considered:

• What should the future hold for Englishtown?

• What is needed to create a community that has a vibrant local economy; values and uses its natural and historic assets wisely; and meets the needs of residents and businesses now and in the future?

• Can they be part of the solution?

As professionals design a plan for the borough's future, consideration will be given to:

• Main Street and downtown Englishtown: downtown revitalization and community design.

• Transportation and land use: traffic, parking, pedestrian safety, design and streetscapes.

• Linking the town's resources: recreational assets, historic heritage, arts, parks and lakes.

• Economic development: creating a vibrant business community, identifying the market niche for Englishtown.

Drewes said the object of the program was to have community involvement and give residents and business owners a chance to share their ideas with experts from throughout the United States.

"People brought their ideas to the experts and we will springboard off of the ideas that were presented by businesses, residents and representatives of area organizations. The team will create a new vision for Englishtown that incorporates the themes of sustainability, providing jobs, providing housing and protecting the environment," Drewes said.