Goal H6: Enhance Quality of Life | Equity and Environmental Justice

Promote people-centric communities: Use different policy levers and planning tools to encourage development patterns which are more pedestrian and transit-oriented in urban centers and building practices that take environmental considerations into account. 

POLICY H6.1: Identify the various existing and potential funding sources for infrastructure/public facility needs, including local, state, and federal money.

POLICY H6.2: Urban Centers. Implement existing specific plans for New ParkPlace and Old Town, creating locations in Newark which are more urban and pedestrian-oriented in character than they are today. These areas will be transformed over time into mixed-use centers with retail, office, civic, and higher density housing uses. 

POLICY H6.3: Land use and transportation policy that encourages active transportation and transit oriented development. Make land use and transportation decisions that reduce emissions, including promotion of walking and bicycling, improvements to public transportation, and a jobs-housing balance that reduces vehicle commute miles.  

POLICY H6.4: In partnership with local nonprofits and city departments, work to promote energy efficiency and wise water use in new and existing residential buildings in order to reduce energy costs, provide quality and resilient housing, improve building comfort, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

POLICY H6.5: Allow and encourage green building practices and energy efficient construction, such as Cross Laminated Timber buildings, solar installations, and electrification of buildings.

POLICY H6.6: Urban Heat Island Effect. Develop standards and requirements for municipal projects that can incorporate natural cooling techniques to reduce the urban heat island effect. 

POLICY H6.7: Residential Development in the Floodplain. Limit development within low-lying areas at high risk from flooding. Require any new residential development, including streets and other surface improvements, to be constructed above the 100-year flood elevation.