Make sure you check out these Public Meetings coming up!

• West Hudson -Tuesday, December 1st | 5:30pm-7:30pm
• North Hudson – Wednesday, December 2nd | 5:30pm-7:30pm
• South Hudson – Wednesday, December 9th | 5:30pm-7:30pm

The Hudson County Land Development Regulations (“LDR”) Update:

Applications for development within Hudson County, which impact county roads or county drainage facilities, must receive Hudson County Planning Board approval, in addition to their required municipal approvals.

ln October 2008, the Hudson County Board of Chosen Freeholders adopted a new County site plan and subdivision Ordinance that completely overhauled their 18+-year-old ordinance. Entitled The Hudson County Land Development Regulations for Smart Growth and Sustainable Development, or the “Hudson County LDR,” the ordinance provides the rules that govern how applications are reviewed and approved.

The enabling legislation for Hudson County’s LDR is the New Jersey County Planning Act (N.J.S.A. 40:27-1 et seq). Specifically, the County Planning Act allows counties in NJ jurisdiction over the:

A. Review of all subdivisions;
B. Approval of all subdivisions affecting county roads or drainage facilities; and
C. Approval of all site plans along county roads or affecting drainage facilities

Now, after seven years of implementing the LDR, the County has the opportunity to improve the regulations to satisfy a number of County goals and objectives:

• Address new flooding regulations and base flood elevation (BFE) requirements, put in place as a result of Superstorm Sandy and other heavy flooding events that impacted the County.
• Update the LDR’s Standards for Traffic and Roadway Design to be based on an urban-transect roadway classification system as county roads vary widely in their location and land use context, purpose, volume, types of users, etc.
• Effectuate the Hudson County Complete Streets Ordinance, adopted in May 2012, to ensure road design pays attention to all modes of travel: pedestrian, bicycle, transit and automobile.
• Update urban design standards to focus on enhancing the pedestrian streetscape and creating pedestrian connections.
• Provide additional standards for the siting and design of “green stormwater infrastructure.” Currently, applicants are required to choose 2 of 20 green stormwater techniques.
• Create payment in-lieu standards for developer contributions towards pedestrian impact studies, traffic studies and infrastructure improvements.
• Update the Fee Schedule to clarify application, escrow and inspection fees.
• Reflect federal, state, and county rule changes, such as the County Planning Act, RSIS, Robert’s Rules of Order, MLUL, etc.

The Consulting Team working with Hudson County Planning Division on this important project includes H2M Associates, Inc., Stantec, and Arterial Streets. The project is being funded by NJTPA and will be completed by April 2016.

To see a map of County Road and Drainage Facilities, click here.

To offer your ideas or comments about the LDR Update, please contact Megan Massey, AICP/PP, Principal Planner, at mmassey@hcnj.us