Bergen County Master Plan

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Communities shape their design and character through zoning and land development regulations, while master plans provide a long-term vision for guiding physical development. In New Jersey, counties like Bergen play a distinct role, focusing on the broader regional scale and offering support to municipalities in various aspects. County master plans address the natural and built environment, identifying goals and providing key regional services and infrastructure while facilitating inter-municipal programs. They also serve as valuable resources for residents, municipalities, developers, and the business community offering a framework to assess achievements and inform budgeting decisions. Bergen County's last master plan was adopted in 1962, and since then, significant changes have occurred, presenting new opportunities and challenges, including the impact of eCommerce, a renewed interest in compact development patterns, and climate change.

Recent developments like the COVID-19 pandemic have further influenced aspects of everyday life and behaviors, many of these exposing issues related to equity. Despite these challenges, Bergen County possesses natural assets, transportation infrastructure, and diversity, providing the means to address these issues. County master plans guide municipalities to align with broader goals and objectives and promote regional cooperation and best practices. To address the evolving landscape, Bergen County initiated a comprehensive master plan process in 2009, involving data collection, public outreach, visioning workshops, and SWOT analysis, leading to the development of this master plan.

Below you will find an interactive reproduction of the County's Official Map:

• Snapshot of Existing Conditions
• Vision for Future
  • Built & Natural Environment
  • Programming
• Aspirational Goals for Future Projects & Implementation
• Compendium of Best Practices
• Strategic tool for agencies to tie budgeting and priorities

The Master Plan can be accessed on the County's website. Click the link below to be taken directly to the Master Plan.

• Provide direction and "big picture" to guide municipalities
• Regional perspective related to inter-jurisdictional matters
• Promote best practices and innovative tools

The maps below illustrates the regions of Bergen County and their different characteristics. 

Bergen County’s diverse landscape ranges from urbanized areas to rural locations and natural spaces, encompassing everything from the Palisades cliffs, to the Highlands, to the wetlands of the Meadowlands. While automobiles have influenced many communities, resulting in larger lots and wider streets, some developed earlier around rail stations with more compact building patterns. Land use regulations in Bergen County are primarily managed at the municipal level, with counties overseeing subdivisions and site plans affecting county infrastructure. However, municipalities have the authority to regulate land use through zoning, and this Land Use Element outlines a vision for future development and preservation. It also emphasizes the importance of master plans, zoning changes, and redevelopment processes in adapting to evolving land use patterns. The chapter concludes with goals and objectives and recommended action items, with the overarching goals described below.

• Goal 1: Become the model for smart growth and sustainable development both in New Jersey and in the region
• Goal 2: Advance the redevelopment of brownfields & underutilized sites (“grayfields”)
• Goal 3: Limit sprawl development patterns which increase vehicle traffic and congestion
• Goal 4: Encourage a wide variety of housing types, range of densities, and price points
• Goal 5: Mainstream the use of green building and sustainable design

The Economic Vitality Element focuses on enhancing community prosperity by promoting gainful employment, financial stability for residents, attracting and retaining businesses, and fostering a strong local economy. Several external factors such as the economic climate, transportation, education, workforce, and land use play crucial roles in achieving these goals. The chapter also assesses various services supporting the business environment, including business support, workforce development, and tourism, aiming to identify opportunities for growth and expansion. The chapter concludes with goals and objectives and recommended action items, with the overarching goals described below.

• Goal 1: Maximize job creation and investment by facilitating economic development
• Goal 2: Encourage redevelopment and revitalization of underutilized sites
• Goal 3: Improve transportation opportunities and commuting options
• Goal 4: Develop more skilled and efficient workforce
• Goal 5: Market and promote Bergen County
• Goal 6: Develop a formal program of business advocacy

Bergen County boasts diverse landscapes, from urbanized areas to rural and natural settings, accommodating nearly 1 million residents, with developed lands covering over three-quarters of the county's area. The relationship between development and the environment is complex, as the need for freshwater, wastewater management, and stormwater drainage persists across different landscapes. The county's intricate political jurisdictions, including the Meadowlands District, Highlands Planning and Preservation Areas, Palisades Interstate Park, and utility authorities, often do not align with natural systems, meaning that decisions in one area ultimately have impacts elsewhere and are not limited by boundary lines.

For the county to remain a desirable place to invest, live, work and play, it is crucial to comprehend how development interacts with these natural systems. This Element assesses the county's physical geography and natural systems, examining their management within the developed landscape, and identifies goals, objectives, and potential actions to maintain or enhance these vital interconnections. The goals from this chapter are summarized below.

• Goal 1: Preserve, protect, conserve, and enhance water supply
• Goal 2: Maintain and update aging infrastructure to meet existing and future demand
• Goal 3: Encourage land use decisions that will protect open space, natural lands, publicly owned lands, and parkland to leverage ecosystem services.
• Goal 4: Assist municipalities with floodplain management