VIII. CIRCULATION PLAN

The law governing municipal planning in New Jersey (Municipal Land Use Law – N.J.S.A. 40:55D et. seq.) provides for a Circulation Plan element as part of a municipal master plan.

"A circulation plan element showing the location and types of facilities for all modes of transportation required for the efficient movement of people and goods into, about, and through the municipality, taking into account the functional highway classification system of the Federal Highway Administration and the types, locations, conditions and availability of existing and proposed transportation facilities, including air, water, road and rail."  

BACKGROUND

The Circulation Plan as an element of the Mendham Township Master Plan was first adopted in January 1989. In March 1990 the Circulation Plan was supplemented by a schedule of design standards. In 1997, it was again amended to reclassify the roads within the Township in accordance with a new nomenclature of road categories. The new classification nomenclature took into account the Federal Highway Administration functional highway classification system. However, its primary intention was to reflect the special value that the Township roads play in the principal Master Plan goal of preserving the Township’s rural/historic character. In June of 1997, the Residential Site Improvement Standards became effective in New Jersey superceding all municipal standards for roads built in connection with residential developments. Among other standards, the RSIS controls road design and pavement widths. The Circulation Plan Map, as revised and dated September 2001, shows the 76.65-mile road system within Mendham Township, comprised of 7.06 miles of County Road (Route 510, Tempe Wick Road/Route 646), 61.81 miles of Township Roads and 7.78 miles of private roads. Mendham Township, in its entirety, has been designated "Planning Area 5, Environmentally Sensitive Areas" by the State Development and Redevelopment Plan. This designation calls for limited growth and special emphasis on the protection of the quality of the environment and preservation of natural resources. This Circulation Plan is intended to be consistent with that designation and with the overall goal of retaining the Township's traditional rural historic character.  

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

The system of roads in the Township evolved over the life of many generations and, despite the development pressures of recent decades, the network of "spine" roads remains relatively unchanged. This evolutionary pattern is characterized by the curvilinear roadscapes adapted to the natural terrain and is evident throughout the community. This pattern significantly contributes to, and indeed defines, the rural and historic character of the Township. Consequently, any substantial alteration or modification of historic roads would necessarily lead to a decline and attrition of traditional qualities. Circulation planning should harmonize with the recognition that many of the Township's roads represent more than mere engineering objects for the benefit of accommodating traffic/transportation. The evolved roads are also significant visual elements of its historic heritage. These qualities, together with irreplaceable natural resources, should be preserved as valuable attributes of the Township's unique character. In addition, the Circulation Plan must also promote, in a positive manner, a safe and efficient traffic/transportation network in the community.  

ROAD CLASSIFICATIONS

As shown on the Circulation Plan Map, the Circulation Plan classifies all roads in the Township relative to their function within the local or regional transportation-circulation system and establishes the following four categories:

 

Regional Arterial.

County Route 510 is a two-lane regional arterial road that connects to expressways and principal traffic generators in the region and delivers large volumes of traffic to municipalities throughout several Counties primarily by way of connecting arterial roads.

Collector Roads.

These two-lane roads are the highest order of residential roads in the Township. They conduct and distribute traffic between lower-order residential roads and higher-order arteries such as highways and expressways in the region. Except for the Regional Artery, these roads carry the highest volumes of traffic in the Township. However, it is the Township’s goal to retain their traditional character as relatively narrow "country roads". This category essentially corresponds with the Street Hierarchy Definition and Design Standards outlined for Major Collectors (Low Intensity) in the Residential Site Improvement Standards, promulgated by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Codes and Standards (N.J.A.C. 5:21-1 et seq.). The following roads In the Township fall in this category:

 

• Roxiticus Road (from Route 510 to Chester Township)
• Ironia Road

• South Road

• Cold Hill Road

• Tempe Wick Road
• Woodland Road (Northern Portion)

 

Local Rural Roads.

All other public roads in the Township fall within this category of roads. They provide frontage for access to lots and carry traffic to and from adjoining Local Rural Roads. They are designed to carry volumes limited to motorists having origin or destination within a limited area. These roads are not intended to carry regional traffic. This category essentially corresponds with the Street Hierarchy Definition and Design Standards outlined for Minor Collectors (Low Intensity) or Rural Streets in the Residential Site Improvement Standards, promulgated by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, Division of Codes and Standards (N.J.A.C. 5:21-1 et. seq.).

Pedestrian Paths.

This category is designed to provide access to certain sites, limited to pedestrian means, where there is either no demand for vehicular access or where such traffic is deemed undesirable, due to topographic, environmental or other conditions. Pedestrian Paths, designed primarily to access existing school facilities or to provide access to preserved open space areas, have been designated at:

• Extension of Old Orchard Road
• Extension of Hamilton Drive
• Extension of Calais Road
• Within the existing right-of-way of Knollwood Trail

CIRCULATION PLANNING

POLICIES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The Circulation Plan should be designed to pursue and advance explicit policies:

• Preserve road character.

  Preserve the essential character and scale of existing roads as justified in the context of the State Development and Redevelopment Plan.

• Limited road improvements.

  Road improvements should be limited to specifically target only necessary enhancement of traffic safety and convenience. In all cases they should be sensitive in scale to the preservation of traditional roadscapes and the vulnerability of environmental resources.

• Road maintenance. Although the condition of the roads in the Township can generally be characterized as good, a consistent, scheduled monitoring plan should be continued. Such a strategy will aid the conduct of a regular ongoing and deliberate road maintenance program, which is necessary not only to provide convenience and safety of traffic, but will also help to reduce the cost of repairs in the long-term.

• Roadside plantings.

  In consultation with the Landscape and Tree Protection Commission, perimeter plant material (trees and shrubs) along existing roads shall be maintained and, where appropriate, installed or replaced in a manner responsive to the historic atmosphere by the Township and/or developers operating on lands adjacent to such roads.

• New road design.

  The design and scale of any new roadways, constructed as components of future developments, shall emulate to the extent practicable, the curvilinear alignment, improved widths and perimeter vegetation of historic rural roads.

• Speed limits.

  Speed limits should be appropriately controlled to suit the scale, visibility conditions, alignment, traffic loads and abutting intensity of development, in order to minimize risks to cyclists, school children, joggers, pedestrians, and wildlife, as well as vehicles on the road.

• Public roads proposed to serve only one lot.

  The construction of public roads causes substantial land disturbance harmful to preservation goals. In addition, they are a long-term burden on taxpayers. The construction of new public roads should therefore be discouraged when they are proposed to serve only one lot.

DESIGN STANDARDS

FOR ROADS

The New Jersey Residential Site Improvement Standards (RSIS) specifies required right-of-way widths, pavement widths, and design standards, for roads consistent with their function. Although these standards are uniform throughout the State, design options are provided in some cases, especially for lower order roads carrying limited traffic volumes. In addition, the RSIS provides for Special Area Designation permitting alternate design standards in areas of special environmental and historic preservation concerns. All of Mendham Township is affected by one or both of these concerns and thus can qualify for such designation. In any case, the design options chosen should be those that are consistent with the Township’s overall planning goals of preserving the Township’s environmental quality and its historic and rural character.