East Greenwich master plan

The development of a comprehensive Master Plan for a rural, agricultural community such as East Greenwich may seem premature to many, since the Township has not been experiencing the growth evidenced by many of its neighbors in the Philadelphia-Camden region. It is not only necessary, however, but essential that the Township develop a plan to guide future growth when it begins. A great deal of the prime agricultural land in southern New Jersey is rapidly being developed for residential, commercial and industrial purposes. Once these prime lands have been developed, it becomes impossible to replace this valuable natural resource. As pressures for development increase, many developers are attracted to a community, seeking only a profit on an investment, rather than in how their development might affect the community. As development is allowed to scatter, taxes must necessarily increase. As taxes are increased to pay for the necessary facilities and services, more farmers are forced into a position of having to sell their farm lands to meet these tax increments, resulting in even more development. Rather than having these outside developers shaping the future community, the comprehensive plan as presented here affords East Greenwich an opportunity to shape its own future. The Master Plan attempts to shape a balanced community, tied together by the inter-relationship of land uses, circulation and community facilities. Based upon this concept, certain areas have been designated for concentrated residential growth, commercial and industrial development, and retention of prime agricultural lands. Community facilities have been strategically located to serve the residents in an economical manner. These have necessarily been interrelated with a circulation system to move traffic in a safe and efficient pattern. In order to arrive at this program, the plan has formulated objectives which all citizens and local officials should strive to achieve. These objectives are based on an analysis of past, present and future trends. Should they change in the future, due to the constant review process necessary in such a long-range program, the Plan will be revised to keep community objectives and the Master Plan in proper perspective. Thus, the Plan provides the necessary framework to guide future development within the Township