golden triangle visioning study - dvrpc · section 1.4. your response must be placed in a sealed...

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1909 ROUTE 70 EAST, SUITE 300

CHERRY HILL, NEW JERSEY 08003 (856) 751-2242

____________________________________________________________________________________________

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR

GOLDEN TRIANGLE VISIONING STUDY

October 1, 2007

____________________________________________________________________________________________

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SECTION 1: Instructions to Firms ______________________________________________________________________________________________ 1.1 Submissions Being Solicited in Fair and Open Process The Camden County Improvement Authority (“CCIA”) is soliciting submissions from qualified professional planners and design firms to provide consultant services to the CCIA, as outlined in the attached document titled Golden Triangle Visioning Study TCDI Grant Application (EXHIBIT A). CCIA is soliciting submissions under this Request for Proposals (“RFP”) in a fair and open process pursuant to N.J.S. 19:44A-20.4 et seq. Written submissions responding to the requirements contained in this RFP should be submitted to the following address: Camden County Improvement Authority 1909 Route 70 East, Suite 300 Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08003 Attn: Jeffrey S. Swartz, Executive Director To be considered, one (1) original and five (5) copies of your response directed to the above-mentioned address must be received by the CCIA no later than 3:00 p.m. on Monday, October 29th, 2007. All submissions received by the CCIA by 3:00 p.m. on October 29, 2007 will be publicly opened by the CCIA at its offices at the above address at 4:00 p.m. on October 29, 2007. Awards shall be made publicly by resolution of the members of CCIA at a subsequent meeting. Late submissions will not be accepted and will be returned unopened. No oral, written or other form of amendment will be accepted by the CCIA after this time, unless requested by the CCIA. The CCIA reserves the right to reject any or all submissions, to waive any requirements of the RFP and to modify or amend, with the consent of the respondent, submissions. All submissions become the property of the CCIA. The preparation of an RFP response shall be at the expense of the respondent. The CCIA will not reimburse firms for any costs associated with the preparation or submittal of any response. By responding to this RFP, you acknowledge and consent to the conditions set forth herein relative to the submission, review and consideration of your response. A bidders briefing will be held Monday, October 15 at 10am at the CCIA’s offices at the above address. 1.2 Contact Information It is the responsibility of the respondent to inquire about clarification of any aspect of the RFP that is not understood. Questions for clarification should be addressed in writing to: Mr. Jeffrey S. Swartz, Executive Director Camden County Improvement Authority 1909 Route 70 East, Suite 300 Cherry Hill, New Jersey 08003 (856) 751-2242 The deadline for questions and inquires is 4:00pm on Friday October 19, 2007. 1.3 Proposal Format Responses should cover all information requested in Section 3 of this RFP and should also address the selection criteria in Section 1.4. Your response must be placed in a sealed envelope and clearly labeled with the title "Golden Triangle Visioning Study” and the firm’s name and business address. Each proposal must be accompanied by a letter of transmittal not exceeding two pages. The letter must include the full legal name and business address of the firm.

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Additionally, responses should address the firms’ ability and willingness to explicitly comply with the Scope of Work and Project Schedule of Activities as outlined in the attached document titled Golden Triangle Visioning Study TCDI Grant Application. Respondents are encouraged to promote their ability to represent information graphically through the use of sketches, photo-simulations, maps and charts. Proposals failing to complete the attached document titled Object Billing Summary and failing to meet the criteria set forth below in 3.12 will be deemed incomplete and rejected. Submissions which, in the sole judgment of the CCIA, fail to meet the requirements of the RFP or which are in any way conditional, incomplete, obscure, contain additions or deletions from requested information, or contain errors may be rejected.

Submissions should provide a straightforward and concise delineation of the respondent proposal and commitment to satisfy the requirements of the RFP. 1.4 Criteria Used for Basis of Award Submissions will be evaluated by the Board of Commissioners of the CCIA on the basis of the most advantageous, price and other factors considered. The evaluation will consider the criteria of experience and reputation in the field, professional expertise, including accreditation, licensing and/or membership in appropriate professional associations, knowledge of the CCIA and the subject matter to be addressed under the contract, past performance on other work for the CCIA, availability to accommodate any required meetings of the CCIA, availability of personnel and other resources to do the work on the schedule set forth by the CCIA, designated professional and support staff and location of offices, strength of assurances of performance provided, if required, financial stability and strength of the submitting firm, on-going criminal investigations or litigation, references in general, insurance provided, fee and compensation proposal, and other factors as demonstrated to be in the best interest of the CCIA. As the members of the CCIA shall utilize the criteria set forth above in making an award pursuant to this RFP, you are urged to provide sufficient information on the above criteria in your submission. Selection of the award shall be based solely on the CCIA’s evaluation of the submissions and the criteria set forth above. The CCIA reserves the right to interview the most qualified respondents. CCIA also reserves the right to negotiate the terms and conditions of the contract to obtain the most advantageous situation for the CCIA. The right to reject any or all submissions and to waive information required in the RFP is reserved by the CCIA. 1.5 Compliance with Laws The selected firm shall comply with all applicable federal, state and local statutes, rules and regulations. The firm chosen will be required to comply with P.L. 1975 c.127 (affirmative action requirements). 1.6 Indemnification The selected firm shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless the CCIA, its officers, agents and employees from any and all claims and costs of any nature whether for personal injury, property damage or any other liability arising out of or in any way connected with the any acts or omissions of the firm or any of its principals, employees or agents under this request for proposal or under any agreement executed with the CCIA.

1.7 Subcontractors If the firm intends to subcontract out any part of the work contained in the scope of this RFP, the firm shall provide a complete description of the services to be subcontracted, an estimate of the overall amount of work to be subcontracted, the rationale behind the need to subcontract, and a comprehensive description of the proposal and experience of the proposed subcontractor. The CCIA reserves the right to disapprove any proposed subcontractor and to revoke previous approval of a subcontractor should the need arise.

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1.8 Conflict of Interest Firms must identify any conflict of interest that may arise from providing services to the CCIA. The CCIA reserves the right: 1) to disqualify any firm or reject any proposal at any time solely on the grounds that a real or policy conflict of interest is presented; 2) to require the firm to take any action or supply information necessary to remove the conflict; or 3) to terminate any contract arising from this solicitation if any such relationship would constitute or have potential to create a real or perceived conflict of interest that cannot be resolved to CCIA's satisfaction.

1.9 Proposal as Public Information and Property of CCIA The information submitted in each proposal may be subject to public disclosure pursuant to State and Federal law. All proposals will become the property of the CCIA. Proposals submitted will not be returned to respondents unless they are received late. SECTION 2: Evaluation of Proposal and Selection Procedures ________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.1 Initial Screening A screening of all proposals will be conducted to determine overall responsiveness. Proposals determined to be incomplete or non-responsive will be disqualified.

2.2 Evaluation of Submission Documents The proposals of each firm will be evaluated based upon the requirements of this RFP and the criteria set forth above in Section 1.4. This evaluation process will take into account all items submitted in Section 3 of the RFP and will not be based solely upon the Fee Schedule submitted by the firm. The review will focus on the experience and expertise of the firm in providing similar services in the State of New Jersey to other authorities. This step of the overall evaluation may include verification of credentials and stated experience.

SECTION 3: Submission Requirements (Please respond in as much detail as possible) ____________________________________________________________________________________________ 3.1 Description of Firm and Capabilities. Provide a history and description of your firm and its capabilities. 3.2 Staffing Levels. Detail the staff level of your firm including principals and associates as of the date of this RFP. 3.3 Personnel. Please provide brief résumés of the individuals in your firm who would provide the services,

indicating the senior partner or principal. Provide a brief résumé for each such person and describe his/her other experience in rendering services of the nature the CCIA seeks. Indicate the role of each individual in serving the CCIA.

3.4 General Experience. Please briefly summarize your experience since January 1, 2000 providing services for

municipal entities and governments in and outside of New Jersey. 3.5 References. Provide three (3) references which can be contacted during the RFP process indicating the name,

contact person, his/her title and address and telephone number for whom you have provided similar services over the past two years. Indicate your role and the type of services provided for such client.

3.6 Exhibits. Respondent also need to complete all exhibits listed below:

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a. Evidence of compliance with Affirmative Action (see EXHIBIT B attached) b. Ownership Affidavit (see EXHIBIT C attached)

3.7 Conflicts. Describe any existing or potential conflicts of interest your firm might have, or which reasonably might

arise, due to your involvement with the CCIA. 3.8 Regulatory Investigations/Litigation. Provide details of any criminal investigation or pertinent litigation pending

against your firm or members of your firm. 3.9 Affirmative Action. The successful firm shall be required to comply with the requirements of P.L. 1975, c. 127

and submit an employee information report or certificate of employee information report upon request. 3.10 Insurance. Detail your insurance coverage applicable to the services described herein. Such coverage must be

adequate to sufficiently cover the services detailed herein and must include at a minimum, general liability insurance coverage and professional liability insurance coverage.

3.11 Other Information. Please discuss any other factors not mentioned above which you believe are relevant to the

CCIA's selection of your firm. 3.12 Fee Schedule. Please attach your fee schedule for providing the services requested in this RFP. Include the

fee structure for all staff that will be assigned to the CCIA for this project, as applicable. In addition, please detail your firm’s billing procedures and rates as to overhead and out-of-pocket expenses. Please refer to the instruction in 1.3 for detailed budget reporting

3.13 Deliverables. Consultant will deliver one (1) original, five (5) color copies and one (1) electronic version of

the proposal for the Golden Triangle Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy.

3.14 Minority Business Enterprise. DVRPC complies with Title 49 CFR Part 26, "Participation of Minority

Business Enterprises in Department of Transportation Programs" and encourages minority businesses and women-owned businesses to submit proposals and further encourages non-minority business firms to contract with minority businesses where subcontracting opportunities exist.

Disadvantaged and minority-owned business will be required to submit certification of eligibility ownership prior to execution of any agreements.

3.15 Certification of Eligibility. A certificate is to be included in the proposal for each firm stating that:

"The firm is not ineligible to receive award of a contract due to the firm's inclusion on any federal, Pennsylvania or New Jersey State lists of debarred contractors, or otherwise ineligible to be awarded a contract using federal or state funds."

This statement can be written on your firm’s letterhead and should be signed by an officer of the firm.

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EXHIBIT B

Affirmative Action Requirements

The Respondent shall comply with the anti-discrimination provision of N.J.S.A. 10:2-1 et

seq., the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination, N.J.S.A. 10:5-1 et seq. and N.J.A.C. 17:27-1.1 et seq.. The Respondent agrees by responding to this RFP to afford equal opportunity in performance of the Contract.

The Respondent shall not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of age, race, creed, color, national original, ancestry, religion, familial status, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, sex or liability for services in the armed forces of the United States. The Respondent shall take affirmative action to ensure that such applicants are recruited and employed, that employees are treated during employment without regard to their age, race, creed, color, national original, ancestry, religion, familial status, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, sex or liability for services in the armed forces of the United States. Such action shall include, but not be limited to, the following: employment, upgrading, demotion or transfer, recruitment or recruitment advertising, layoff or termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and selection for training, including apprenticeship. The Respondent agree to post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for employment, notices to be provided by the contracting officer setting forth the provisions of this nondiscrimination clause.

The Respondent shall, in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the CCIA, state that all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their age, race, creed, color, national original, ancestry, religion, familial status, marital status, affectional or sexual orientation, sex or liability for services in the armed forces of the United States.

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EXHIBIT C

OWNERSHIP AFFIDAVIT

STATE OF ______________________) :ss COUNTY OF ____________________) ______________________________________________________ being sworn according to law, on his/her oath deposes and says:

1. That he/she is authorized to make this affidavit on behalf of _________________________________________________ (Name of Firm) 2. That in compliance with Chapter 33 of Public Laws of 1977, which provides that

no corporation or partnership shall be awarded any state, county, municipal or school district contract for the performance of any work or the furnishing of any materials or supplies unless prior to the receipt of the Proposal or accompanying the Proposal of said corporation or partnership there is submitted a statement setting forth the names and addresses of all stockholders in the corporation or partnership who own ten percent (10%) or more of its stock of any class, or of all individual partners in the partnership who own a ten percent (10%) or greater interest therein, the following is a complete list of all stockholders in the corporation/ partnership with ten percent (10%) or greater interest therein. ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________

[additional pages may be attached]

By:___________________________________ Title:________________________________

Subscribed and sworn to before me this ______ day of ___________________, 200_ _______________________________________ [SEAL] Notary Public, State of ____________________ My commission expires ________________. 2486400v1

Golden Triangle Visioning Study 2007 Transportation & Community Development Initiative

Golden Triangle Visioning Study TCDI Application

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NARRATIVE PROBLEM STATEMENT Many of the homes and businesses in the area in the northwestern part of Cherry Hill Township, in the Golden Triangle between Haddonfield Road (County Route 644) and NJ Routes 38 (Kaighns Avenue) and 70 (Marlton Pike), were built during the heyday of the Garden State Racetrack in the 1940s and 1950s. This early boom produced isolated mixed-use neighborhoods along Routes 38 and 70, including strip commercial development and a trailer home park on Marlton Pike. The east side of Cherry Hill Township experienced its housing and commercial development boom between the 1970s and 1990s. While development on the east side of NJ Transit’s railroad tracks continued, that on the other side of the track generally stagnated.

There are many bright spots in the Golden Triangle, such as the massive highway and town-centered Garden State Park mixed-use development on the east side of tracks, the office headquarters of Subaru of North America, two grand hotels, new restaurants, etc. There are, however, many problems:

• Vehicular traffic snarls on the state highways, not because of local demands but from those of through traffic and lane restrictions due to almost century-old railroad bridge widths.

• Neighborhood residents fear that any new development in the Golden Triangle would further worsen local traffic, jam overcrowded schools and place a heavier burden on local property taxes.

• The railroad tracks act as a complete barrier between what would otherwise be the seam of a great transit-village. There are no definitive plans to cross the tracks and bind the east and west sides into a transit-oriented and transit-friendly community.

• Office park infill development and pollution along Mill Creek destroyed wetlands and natural habitats polluted the stream destroying the quality of life for local residents and plant and animal species. The creek’s “greenway” is generally inaccessible from Kenilworth neighborhood residents and local workers.

• The grand Cooper River Park System, just south of Route 70 is isolated from neighborhood residents who must drive and park their cars there. Continuous travel along the river’s greenway is difficult due to underpass restrictions at the old railroad tracks and overpass restrictions at Cuthbert Boulevard.

• Accessibility to and parking at the train station is awkward and confusing. The station, which appears to be an afterthought and not a centerpiece, is adjacent to a massive shopping center’s rear loading docks and trash compactors. The train’s head times make it irrelevant for many users and there is limited connection to PATCO and NJ Transit’s River Line.

• Half of the major tenants in that massive shopping center have left to go to other places in Cherry Hill. What is left is a poorly configured greyfield.

• Strip commercial development is often vacant or underutilized due to competition from the Cherry Hill Mall and larger shopping centers, fast paced traffic and narrow lot sizes.

• Several of the Golden Triangle’s massive office buildings were built during the era of single-tenant corporations, such as the Executive Campus for Stone & Webster’s 900 employees. With competitive business park developments along I-295 and NJ Route 73, many of these Golden Triangle buildings become yearly “see-throughs”.

• Auto dealerships, which have been here for more that a half-century, have expanded their surface lots to take every available space for on-site and satellite storage.

PURPOSE The basic purpose of the Golden Triangle Visioning Study is to get stakeholders and the general public to imagine a future long-range (2025) “role” and “character” for this strategic 950-acre tract on the Township’s northwest gateway and then to develop a plan for how that is to be achieved. It will involve strengthening those elements that work well, such as local neighborhoods, those that show great potential, such as the NJ Transit Station, local hotels, newer developments and the new Garden State

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Park, and those that are problematical. It will require examining alternative concepts, evaluating their fiscal and infrastructure impacts, reaching out, discussing and developing consensus. The purpose is to make this a functioning “place” that benefits interested stakeholders, local businesses and residents and the overall community.

PRELIMINARY EFFORTS There have been many substantial and piecemeal efforts in the Golden Triangle study area, but none that have brought them all together and focused on the problem areas of train station, Route 70 and commercial development west of the tracks. Efforts to-date, however, provide a strong framework to make the Golden Triangle Visioning Study a success. The most comprehensive approach of this nature has been the ongoing development of the Garden State Park on the east side of the railroad tracks, which was discussed in a previous Township TCDI application of the Haddonfield Road (County Route 644) corridor. In 2006, the Camden County Improvement Authority completed the Camden Hub Plan, which identified this area as a major “sub-regional” center where there would be a higher employment concentration and development of transit-oriented and transit-friendly development around the Cherry Hill train station. DVRPC included the study area in its regional TOD analyses and study. Cherry Hill Township has used NJ DCA’s Neighborhood Preservation Program to rehabilitate homes in parts of the study area. The Township has designated strategic parts of the study area on NJ Route 70 and Cuthbert Road as redevelopment areas. Most importantly, Cherry Hill Township has worked with neighborhoods and local businesses to develop strong neighborhood associations and the Cherry Hill Business Partnership. It actively engages them in all community development efforts, such as the one proposed.

PROPOSED PROJECT APPROACH & DELIVERABLES The basic approach of this visioning study would be that similar to many other master plan-type projects, except that it will involve a great deal of analyses of land use (economic development, housing, redevelopment, transit-oriented and transit-friendly development, urban design), circulation (transportation and transit), natural resources and public participation.

The chief deliverable is to be a Vision and Plan for the study area. The Vision section should respond to the following questions:

1. What type of place(s) should this area become? 2. What sort of land uses should it contain? 3. To what scale / intensity should development be allowed? 4. How should these land uses be arranged / grouped? 5. In what building types and forms should they be designed? 6. How will these improvements impacts the Township’s fiscal and infrastructure resources?

The Plan section should respond to the following questions:

1. How should land use regulations be amended to achieve the Vision? 2. How should circulation patterns be improved to connect areas / neighborhoods within the study

area and to adjacent neighborhoods? 3. How should performance standards be changed to protect the Environment? 4. How should urban design standards be enhanced to foster Community? 5. What infrastructure investments should be made to encourage Sustainability? 6. What other public policies/projects/programs should be implemented to realize Smart Growth?

In order to do these sections, the Consultant must complete analyses of the following issues:

Land Use a. Existing Non-Residential Development Conditions b. Existing Housing / Neighborhood Conditions c. Approved / Pending / Planned Development d. Redevelopment Areas / Plans e. Master Plan & Zoning Ordinance Review f. Urban Design Conditions

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Natural Resources a. Stormwater Management b. Freshwater Wetlands Protection c. Recreation / Open Space (County, Municipal, Neighborhood) d. Brownfields Investigation

Circulation

a. Highways and Bridges (NJ Routes 38 & 70 and County Routes 644, 636, etc) b. Mass Transit and Bridges (Passenger Rail, Bus, Other) c. Street Hierarchy & Connectivity d. Off-Street Parking Standards e. Pedestrian & Bicycle Routes

In addition to the above analyses, the Consultant also should complete the following investigations:

1. Market Feasibility Study for the Study Area, 2. Zoning Build-Out Analysis, based on current zoning, 3. Train and Bus headways and connections analysis, 4. Transit Oriented / Friendly Development Opportunities study, 5. Mill Creek Greenway feasibility and Cooper River Greenway connectivity studies 6. Stakeholder Interviews and Surveys, 7. School, Fiscal, Traffic, and Infrastructure Impact Analyses of the final conceptual land use plan 8. Community Outreach and Public Visioning and Design Charrettes

Required elements in the Golden Triangle Vision and Plan (deliverable) are:

1. General Real Estate / Land Use Market Analysis, 2. Vision Statement with conceptual land use master plan, 3. Land Use Element with recommended land use types, densities / FARs, bulk standards, etc., 4. Circulation Element with recommended vehicular, mass transit and pedestrian improvements, 5. Design Element with urban design, landscaping and streetscaping guidelines, 6. Natural Resources Element with open space, wildlife habitat and park improvements 7. Public Participation Element which summarizes public outreach and participation efforts and

results, e.g., stakeholder interviews, meetings, charrettes, presentations, etc. 8. Strategic Plan with recommended action steps

Information in these end-products will be presented in text format and illustrated with photographs, conceptual renderings, maps, diagrams, sketch plans and diagrams, illustrated draft guidelines and typical/prototype examples, sketch and photo simulation views and cross-sections. The finished product shall be in a PDF format so that it may be distributed electronically.

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SCOPE OF WORK & PROJECT SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES 1. Upon approval of the grant application, the CCIA will prepare an RFP and select, with the Township’s

input, a consultant team to complete the project, as described in the above PROPOSED PROJECT APPROACH & DELIVERABLES. If possible, this will be done prior to signing of contracts with DVRPC in July 2007 to provide more flexibility in the project schedule. (See PROJECT SCHEDULE OF ACTIVITIES on page 6 for more scheduling details.)

2. Township to establish a Steering Committee composed public-sector, private-sector and community

representatives. The Steering Committee will meet regularly with the Township and CCIA staff to review grant progress and periodically with the consultant team to review and comment on draft and final project deliverables.

3. CCIA will sign contract with Consultant team to perform tasks described in approved proposal and

scope of work. Consultant is to begin research immediately on Land Use, Natural Resources and Circulation issues. CCIA and Township are to provide reference materials to Consultant.

4. At the third month into project, Consultant team will meet with Steering Committee to explain project

and to develop a broad list of stakeholders to interview about Golden Triangle issues. Consultant will begin market feasibility study based on this and other standardized information, in the manner described in the approved proposal and scope of work.

5. At the eight month into the project, the Consultant team will meet with the Steering Committee to

present the draft findings of the issues analyses and other studies described above. The Consultant will describe how the public workshops/charrettes will be conducted and how the results will be utilized.

6. At the ninth month, the Consultant, with assistance from the CCIA, Township and Steering

Committee, will hold two consecutive public workshops/charrettes to get public input and develop consensus on future planning and development in the study area. The general findings of these efforts, as well as a general measure of school, traffic, fiscal, and infrastructure impacts, will be presented to the Steering Committee on the 10th month.

7. The Consultant will present a draft of the deliverables to the Steering Committee at the 16th month for

their review and approval. 8. These draft documents will be revised and given to the Steering Committee the following month and

presented to the Township Planning Board on the eighteenth month. The CCIA also will finalize all grant reporting and administrative requirements at that time.

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Golden Triangle Visioning Study Cherry Hill

PROJECT MONTHS1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

Project Schedule of Activities CCIA develops & issues RFP; reviews proposals with TownshipCCIA selects consultant with Township input. Township develops Steering Comm and provides orientationConultant introduction. Stakeholder identification.Land Use issues investigationNatural Resource issues investigationCirculation issues investigationStakeholder interviews / surveys and Market Feasibility StudyConsultant presents draft findings and recommendations for public workshops/charrettesPublic Workshops/ Charrettes heldGeneral results reported to Steering Comm with general "order of magnitude" school, traffic, fiscal and infrastructure impacts assessmentLand Use, Natural Resource, Circulation and Design elements preparationDraft Vision and Plan (deliverables) presented to Steering CommitteeVision and Plan (deliverables) finalized

Township PB presentation

Grant administration finalized

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DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT AREA

The “triangle” generally between NJ Routes 38 and 70 and Haddonfield Road (County Route 644) received its moniker in the post WWII era because Routes 38 and 70 were the main suburban retail and entertainment corridors in Pennsauken and Cherry Hill townships and the racetrack in the center was bordered by the third leg on Haddonfield Road. The 950-acre Golden Triangle study area includes the primarily commercial area and adjacent residential neighborhoods between Cooper River, Haddonfield Road (County Route 644), Kaighns Avenue (NJ Route 38) and Cuthbert Boulevard (County Route 636) in the northwest section of Cherry Hill. It is part of the Golden Triangle census-designated place (CDP). The CDP is bordered by Cooper River, Haddonfield Road, Chapel Avenue (County Route 626) and Pennsauken Township. The study area excludes some residential areas between Chapel Avenue and NJ Route 38, as well as some large “fixed” sites, such as Calvary Cemetery, Camden Catholic High School, Merchantville Country Club, Walmart shopping center, etc., because they are only tangential to future redevelopment of the former Garden State Racetrack and future transit-oriented and transit-friendly development at NJ Transit’s Cherry Hill Station.

Demographic Background: The following demographic data is for the Golden Triangle CDP and has not been revised to reflect the proposed study area boundaries. In 1990, the CDP’s population was 3,511. Most of this population is in two neighborhoods, Kenilworth and Highland off Chapel Avenue and Route 38, or in the trailer park, apartment complex and condominium development between Route 70 and Cooper River. The area contained 1,358 households and 862 families, resulting in a population density of roughly (1,200/mi²). The racial composition was 80.75% White, 9.40% African American, 0.14% Native American, 5.16% Asian, 2.08% from other races, and 2.48% from two or more races. Latinos of any race made up 5.50% of the population.

In 2000, of the Golden Triangle CDP’s 1,358 households: 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. The Triangle is no longer an old-fashioned, traditional, suburban “nuclear family” community; 30.8% of all households were composed of individuals living alone, and 12.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. It had an average household size of 2.43 and an average family size of 3.09. The median age was 41 years. About 19% were under the age of 18 and 21% who were 65 years of age or older. The median household income was $46,266, and the median family income was $57,583. Per capita income was $22,423. About 4.6% of families and 7.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.6% of those under 18 and 5.7% of those 65 or over.

Physical Conditions and Trends: (See Problem Statement in Narrative) Benefits: The biggest benefit from this project will be the development of a public consensus of how the northwest gateway in the oldest part of Cherry Hill Township should function and look in the next few decades and how it can be integrated with other successful parts of Cherry Hill and the region. This will include strategies for neighborhood stabilization, economic revitalization, transit enhancement, greenways development and urban design, among other things. While it is not the intent of this project to redesign the approved Garden State Park general development plan on the east side of the railroad tracks, it is possible to find ways to improve it and reconnect it to the west side of the tracks, to the area south of NJ Route 70 and out to Cuthbert Boulevard. Nothing of this scale, involving this much land and property owners, stakeholders and public participation has occurred in suburban Camden County for decades. The Garden State Park general development plan for more than 220 vacant acres had only one property owner and applicant. The remainder of the study area is almost completely developed with hundreds of property owners with a variety of different land uses. The regional benefits are also great. The end product will continue to anchor revitalization of Camden City’s older, inner-ring suburbs in Pennsauken and the west side of Cherry Hill. It will also provide an excellent opportunity to study transit-oriented and transit-friendly development on a large scale, which would provide lessons for a comparable area at NJ Transit’s Atco Station.

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PROPOSED APPROACH TO ACHIEVE PUBLIC/PRIVATE SECTOR INVOLVEMENT Much of the work involved in the Golden Triangle Visioning Study will require the hiring of a consultant team (Consultant) of land use planners, real estate development professionals, urban designers, transportation and transit experts and public relations professionals with experience with suburban and transit-oriented redevelopment. The selection of the team will be based upon the results of a Request for Proposals (RFP), which will have as one of its chief criteria the public outreach and participation element. Although the Township and the CCIA will be responsible for portions of the overall study, the selected consultant will have the chief responsibility of the public outreach and participation element. This project will reach out to the public in several ways: 1. The Consultant, with assistance from the Township and CCIA, will conduct stakeholder interviews

and surveys to gather critical background information for the project. 2. The Consultant will be required to hold two public visioning workshops/charrettes where stakeholders,

local residents and businesses will be encouraged to make suggestions on what the Triangle should become and how it should be used, designed and redeveloped to achieve its true potential, without substantially adversely impacting the rest of the community.

3. The Consultant will help the workshop/charrette attendees develop a consensus-based concept plan for the study area.

4. The Consultant, with assistance from the Township and CCIA, will present the results of these efforts to the Township Planning Board for their review and consideration.

5. The Township will use its facilities and media resources, including its municipal website, to advertise the public sessions and display pertinent information.

Preliminary List of Stakeholders Public Sector Cherry Hill Township Municipal Governing Body, Board of Education, Planning Board and Department of Community Development Camden County: Department of Public Works, Department of Parks, Improvement Authority State and Regional Entities: NJ DOT, NJ DEP, NJ DCA, DVRPC Private Sector Auto dealerships, gas stations and other auto-related businesses Subaru of North America Business / Office Park owners and tenants Calvary Cemetery Camden Catholic High School Cherry Hill Regional Chamber of Commerce Cherry Hill Business Partnership Cherry Hill Mobile Home Park owner and residents Garden State Park developers and tenants Garden State Pavilions owners and tenants Hoteliers, restaurants, diners and bars Local banks and real estate companies Local Shopping Center owners and tenants Neighborhood Associations: Kenilworth, Highland, Locustwood, etc. Township Residents and Businesses from all Neighborhoods

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PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION AND FUNDING The project is to be managed by the staff of the Camden County Improvement Authority (CCIA), which Camden County’s designated economic development, smart growth and regional planning entity. Cherry Hill Township will contribute up to $12,000 for a 20% match in cash or in kind. The Camden County Improvement Authority will provide initial funding, which will be reimbursed by the municipalities and DVRPC, in accordance with grant guidelines. The Scope of Work & Project Schedule of Activities (see pages 3 and 4) detail how the funds will be expended. The CCIA will draft, issue and review RFPs with advice from the Township, the project steering committee and DVRPC. The CCIA will make the final consultant selection and retain the consultant. It will provide the consultant with the above-noted studies and documents and will arrange and conduct the steering committee and public meetings. Cherry Hill Township will be responsible for attendance, participation, stakeholder development, public notices and other duties. As explained in the Proposed Project Approach & Deliverables (see pages 2 and 3), the Visioning Study be prepared in such a way as to be readily implemented by the Township for discussion at Planning Board and Township Council meetings for amendment to the Master Plan, Official Map and Land Development Ordinance.

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ASSESSMENT OF PROJECT CONSISTENCY WITH TCDI GOALS Relationship to Transportation System and Expected Project Impacts The proposed study will explore the potential for transit-oriented and transit-friendly development at the NJ Transit Cherry Hill train station, as well as improvements to mass transit scheduling and to interior circulation among uses and neighborhoods in the Golden Triangle Study area. Zoning, design and redevelopment issues and opportunities along Marlton Pike (NJ Route 70) and Cuthbert Boulevard (County Route 636) will be reviewed. It will include a traffic impact analysis to evaluate and address potential effects of planned growth on the rail and road network. Ability to encourage development and investment The study and plan is expected to produce significant private-sector interest in economic revitalization and re-investment in this older section of the Township. The project will address ways to improve local and regional accessibility and site marketability through changes to existing land use, circulation, urban design and greenways plans and design guidelines. The project will include a market feasibility study to identify the viability of a variety of potential land uses, as well as a significant public participation program and coordination with the Cherry Hill Regional Chamber of Commerce, Cherry Hill Business Partnership and other strategic business partners. Consistency with Relevant State, Regional, County and Local plans The Golden Triangle Visioning Study is consistent with State, Regional, County and Local objectives and plan. The activities proposed for this project coincide with the goals and objectives outlined in the 2001 NJ State Development and Redevelopment Plan for comprehensive planning, economic development, transportation, design, etc., as well as the Planning Area 1 policy objectives. It is also consistent with DVRPC’s Destination 2030 Long Range Plan’s land use, transportation, and open space objectives. It is also consistent with DVRPC’s TOD studies and plans. Redesigning and redeveloping this previously developed area into successful a smart growth community is identified in the CCIA’s Camden Hub Plan and is consistent with the Camden County Open Space and Farmland Preservation Plan. It has been identified for future study in the Township’s draft Master Plan. Other Similar or Related Projects Completed and their Results Some of the municipalities have already embarked on redevelopment plans. Although the plans have not focused on the corridor itself, these plans have identified the benefits and pitfalls of redevelopment and introduced local leaders to the process. Regional plans, such as the DVRPC Destination 2030 Plan, the Cherry Hill Plan and the Cherry Hill Market Analysis and Feasibility Study, will be used as direct references for this plan. In a lot of ways, this project will begin to implement the ideas and concerns listed in these plans. These plans have received a considerable amount of support form the participating municipalities.

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