DEPARTMENT OF POLICY, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT CONTACT INFORMATION Director: James A. Slaughter Phone: (973) 266-5141 Fax: (973) 266-5145 Division of Comprehensive Planning: Manager: Michèle Delisfort Phone: (973) 266-5486 Fax: (973) 673-4077 CITY OF EAST ORANGE DEPARTMENT OF POLICY, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT FREQUENTLY ASKED PLANNING QUESTIONS Division of Economic Development: Manager: Norma Mackey Phone: (973) 266-5404 Fax: (973) 674-2180 Division of Community Development: Manager: Renee Ziegler Phone: (973) 266-5140 Fax: (973) 673-4077 Division of Neighborhood Housing & Revitalization: Manager: Glenn Arnold Phone: (973) 266-5411 Fax: (973) 674-2180 Business Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday Zoning? Residential Loans? Master Plan? Development Process? Demographics? Home Rehabilitation? Lead? Planning Studies? Status Updates? First-Time Homebuyers? City Property? Workshops? Redevelopment Public Meetings? Development Applications? Redevelopment? CDBG Funds? Board Meeting Dates? Governing Bodies? New Development/Business? DEPARTMENT OF POLICY, PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT Lower Level, East Orange City Hall 44 City Hall Plaza East Orange, NJ 07017 Phone: (973) 266-5141 Fax: (973) 673-4077 Online: www.eastorange-nj.org May 2006 Mayor Robert L. Bowser East Orange City Council Joseph Jenkins, City Administrator James A. Slaughter, Director of Policy, Planning and Development Prepared By: Zunilda Rodriguez, A.I.C.P, Department of Policy, Planning and Development
Zoning & Planning: 44. Where can I locate the zoning of my or a property? ANSWER: Contact the Zoning Officer on the third floor of City Hall in the Property Maintenance Department or call (973) 266-5165. 45. How do I obtain a City zoning ordinance? Is there a fee? ANSWER: Contact the City Clerk Department on the second floor of City Hall. The current fee is $26.00. 46. Where can I receive a zoning map? Is there a fee? ANSWER: Contact the Public Works Department on the third floor of City Hall. The fee for a zoning map is $4.00. 47. How can I obtain information on my property taxes? ANSWER: Contact the Tax Collector Office on the first floor of City Hall or call (973) 266-5133. 48. How can I locate the lot, block or address of a property? ANSWER: Contact the Tax Assessor Department on the first floor of City Hall or call (973) 266-5378 or (973) 266-5371. 49. How can I find out who is the owner of a property? ANSWER: Contact the Tax Assessor Department on the first floor of City Hall or call (973) 266-5378 or 5371. 50. Can the City provide me with a survey of my or a property? ANSWER: The City does not keep on file surveys of private property. 51. How can I be placed on the planning department mailing list? Zoning & Planning: 1. How can I obtain a copy of the City s master plan? Is there a fee? Planning and Development in City Hall at (973) 266-5141. Fee is $100.00 each. 2. Where can I obtain information on the City s vision for the future? ANSWER: Obtain or review a copy of the 2006 East Orange Comprehensive Master Plan, which is available in the Department of Policy, Planning and Development on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5141. You can also speak with the city planner located in the Division of Comprehensive Planning on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5438. 3. Where can I obtain information on public notice laws? ANSWER: Contact the City Clerk on the second floor of City all or call (973) 266-5110. 4. Who do I contact to get information through the Open Public Meetings Record Act? ANSWER: Contact the City Clerk Department on the second floor of City Hall or call (973) 266-5115. 5. Where can I obtain information on buying a city-owned property? ANSWER: Contact the Office of Corporation Counsel on the second floor of City Hall by calling at (973) 266-5170 for more information. 6. How can I obtain a sanborne map? Is there a fee? ANSWER: Contact the Public Works Department on the third floor of City Hall by calling at (973) 266-5330. The fee is $2.00 each. 7. How can I get information on community planning meetings? ANSWER: Contact the Department Policy, Planning and Development by calling at (973) 266-5141.
Land Use & Planning: 8. How can I obtain demographics on East Orange? ANSWER: Obtain or review a copy of the 2006 East Orange Master Plan, which is available in the Department of Policy, Planning and Development on the lower level 9. How many members are there on the Planning Board? ANSWER: Ten (10) members are on the East Orange Planning Board. 10. How many members are there on the Zoning Board/Board of Adjustment? ANSWER: Nine (9) members are on the East Orange Board of Adjustment. 11. How can I obtain the calendar schedule for the Planning Board and/or Zoning board meeting dates? 12. How can I receive information on the planning board or zoning board meeting agendas? 13. How can I obtain information on a specific planning study done? 14. How can I receive minutes of a planning or zoning board meeting? Development on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5436. Development Process & Planning: 38. I need assistance filling out the planning or zoning board application. Who do I contact? Comprehensive Planning located in the Department of Policy, Planning and 39. How do I receive a planning board or zoning board application? of City Hall or call the Land Use Administrator at (973) 266-5436. 40. Does the City offer conceptual plan reviews? ANSWER: Yes. An appointment can be made to have conceptual plans reviewed by the Site Plan Review Advisory Committee. Contact the Division of Comprehensive Planning on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5486 for more detailed information. 41. How long does it take to receive approval to build a new project? ANSWER: Timeframes fluctuate during the land use process depending on a number of factors such as application deadlines, zoning determinations, board meeting dates, case file completion, site plan review process, etc. Visit or call the Division of Comprehensive Planning at (973) 266-5486 for more information. 42. We are a large development firm seeking to develop and want to know more about what the City offers. Who do I contact? ANSWER: Complete a developer profile form by contacting the assistant to the planning director in the Department of Policy, Planning and Development by calling (973) 266-5141. 43. What are the drop off and pickup hours for land use cases and resolutions? ANSWER: Resolutions Pickup: Fridays, 8:30am 4:00pm. Case Drop-off: Monday, Tuesday, Thursdays, 8:30 am 4:00pm.
Planning Department 32. What are the business hours and general contact number of the Planning Department? ANSWER: The business hours of the planning department are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Director s Office at (973) 266-5141. 33. What does the Planning Department do? Is their a website? ANSWER: The planning department is charged with providing professional advice and technical expertise to elected officials, city administrators, and the public on land use, planning, economic development, housing and community development initiatives and policies that guide the future physical, social and economic development of the City. The department website is found at www.eastorange-nj.org 34. What divisions operate in the planning department? ANSWER: There are four (4) divisions in the planning department. They include the Divisions of Comprehensive Planning, Economic Development, Community Development and Neighborhood Housing and Revitalization. 35. How can I obtain information on current planning department initiatives? ANSWER: Contact the following department division managers: Comprehensive Planning, Michèle Delisfort at (973)266-5486; Economic Development, Norma Mackey at (973) 266-5404; Community Development, Renee Ziegler at (973) 266-5140 and Neighborhood Housing and Revitalization, Glenn Arnold at (973) 266-5411. 36. How can I make an appointment to speak with the director? Planning and Development on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5141. 37. How can I receive information on the School Demonstration Project in the Lower Main Street Area? ANSWER: Contact the planning director in the Department of Policy, Planning and Development on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5141. Planning & Redevelopment 15. How can I obtain information on purchasing or renting a property in a Redevelopment Area: Planning and Development at (973) 266-5141 and request developer contact information for approved redevelopment areas. 16. How do I obtain a status update on redevelopment projects? 17. What is redevelopment? How many adopted redevelopment areas are there in the City? ANSWER: Redevelopment is defined as a process to rebuild or restore an area in a measurable state in decline, disinvestments or abandonment. The city has ten (10) adopted redevelopment areas. 18. How can I determine if my property is in a redevelopment area? 19. How can I obtain a copy of a specific area investigation report or redevelopment plan? Is there a fee? ANSWER: The fee is $50.00 each. Contact the assistant to the director of the Department of Policy, Planning and Development on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5141. 20. Does the City have a map showing all redevelopment areas? Is there a fee? ANSWER: Yes. There is no charge to obtain a copy of a redevelopment areas map from the Division of Comprehensive Planning. 21. How can I receive information on community development grants and programs offered by or through the City? ANSWER: Contact the Division of Grantsmanship (formerly CDBG) on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5140.
Housing 22. How can I obtain a copy of the Planning Department newsletter? Planning and Development on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5141. 23. Does the City offer first-time homebuyer workshops or programs? ANSWER: Yes. Contact the Division of Neighborhood Housing and Revitalization on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5411 for more information. 24. How can I obtain information on how to become a first-time homebuyer? Revitalization on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5143. 25. Who can I talk to regarding lead or potential lead in my home? Revitalization on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5414 for more information. Economic Development 29. Where can I obtain information on the City s economic development programs? ANSWER: The Office of the Division of Economic Development provides technical assistance for entrepreneurs, business development, site location and capital funding information for capital improvements. Contact the Manager of the Division of Economic Development on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5404. 30. What are some of the benefits of the East Orange Urban Enterprise Zone (UEZ) program? ANSWER: The UEZ program offers businesses benefits such as reduced sales tax, sales tax exemptions, matching grants for façade improvements, employee tax credit. Contact the UEZ Coordinator in the Division of Economic Development on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5432 for more information. For additional information view the UEZ website which is found on the City s main web page at www.eastorange-nj.org 31. Where can I obtain a business license or a permit to operate a business in the City? ANSWER: Contact the Division of Buildings in the Department of Property Maintenance on the third floor of East Orange City Hall. 26. Does the City offer loans to homeowners to rehabilitate homes? ANSWER: Yes. The City offers limited loans to homeowners for rehabilitation. Contact the Division of Neighborhood Housing and Revitalization for more detailed information at (973) 266-5411. 27. How can I receive information on rent control? ANSWER: Contact the Rent Control Office by calling (973) 266-5195. 28. Whom can I speak to if I have an emergency heating problem? Revitalization on the lower level of City Hall or call (973) 266-5413 or (973) 266-5414 for more information.