Frequently Asked Questions

A Master Plan is a public document that reflects a community’s vision for how it should grow and change over time. It usually covers a long-term time period; in this case, Gloucester County is planning for its future growth and development 25 years into the future. When updated, the County’s Master Plan will provide a framework within which to evaluate the community’s progress towards the goals that came out of the gc2040 Community Visioning process.

Themes covered in Master Plans are usually referred to as "Elements." Typical Master Plan Elements include:

• Environment
• Farmland Preservation
• Hazard Mitigation
• Housing
• Land Use
• Open Space
• Recreation/Trails
• Transportation
• Utilities

During the gc2040 Master Plan Update, Gloucester County will update the Land Use and Transportation Elements of its Master Plan.

County Planning Boards in New Jersey are required by law to adopt a Master Plan and a map for the physical development of the county. The last time Gloucester County updated its Master Plan was in 1982! It is outdated and does not reflect today’s physical reality. Updating the plan will:

• Develop recommendations, prioritize projects, and guide funding allocations according to the community’s vision
• Improve coordination and cooperation between the County and its municipalities
• Provide a framework within which to evaluate the community’s progress
• Enable access to additional funding sources

The Land Use Element and the Transportation Element will both be updated during this Master Plan update. Because land use and transportation infrastructure are so closely linked, the two elements will be combined to form one unified Land Use and Transportation Element.

We’ve provided a few helpful links to discuss land use and transportation in more detail:

• Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), Land Use and Environment page
• DVRPC, Smart Growth page
• New Jersey Future, Land-Use Solutions page