With millions of dollars on the table for state and county infrastructure upgrades across Jackson Township, township leaders have embarked on the process of updating their Master Plan. That plan is essentially a roadmap to the future that reviews many aspects of town zones, ordinances, and state laws and mandates to help Jackson fit into the overall picture of a more regional community. This also helps the township navigate the future anticipated growth before that growth becomes an infrastructure problem for the community.

Jackson Mayor Michael Reina today said that he is pleased with the decision by the Planning Board to initiate a Master Plan Sub-Committee that will help shape that future plan.

“Chairwoman Michelle Campbell has assembled a team that is more than capable of doing the leg work and coordinating the process with our township professionals and to act as voices of reason, concern, and clarity as we prepare for some long overdue improvements in our town,” the Mayor said.

Those improvements include millions of dollars in overdue infrastructure upgrades promised by the township to improve and expand county road systems, paving, sidewalks, lighting, and other upgrades that have been announced by county officials.

“The county has told us they plan on making these investments, but they need to see an updated plan,” Reina said. “We are working off a master plan that was created more than a decade ago, so it needs to be updated. We’re also under pressure from the state because we need to come into compliance with several state mandates.”

“This is the first step of the process, this is the creation of the master plan subcommittee,” says Planning Board Attorney Robert Shea. “It will be a very long process.”