The Township is updating our Historic Preservation Element of the Master Plan and wants your input!

A Historic Preservation Element (HPE) is an adopted element of the Municipal Master Plan. It is one of the optional elements. The Municipal Land Use Law describes the HPE as:

“A historic preservation plan element that:

(a) Indicates the location and significance of historic sites and historic districts;

(b) Identifies the standards used to assess worthiness for historic site or district identification; and

(c) Analyzes the impact of each component and element of the master plan on the preservation of historic sites and districts”

This element, like all Master Plan Elements, is intended to guide land-use decisions and provide the basis for ordinances addressing historic preservation issues. For many communities, this element is a good first step in introducing historic preservation concepts into local planning documents and practices. Maplewood’s Historic Preservation Element was last updated in 2008, and its Master Plan was last updated in 2023.

Maplewood Township invites the public to get involved by:

• Completing the 9-question public survey regarding the character, quality, and importance of historic aspects of Maplewood, linked here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/FCGPFFB
• Joining us at the community Workshop being held on Saturday, June 28^th at the Woodland Parlor, 60 Woodland Rd, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Bring your questions, build a deeper understanding of your community, and find solutions to preserve the history of Maplewood in a way residents want.
• Reading the full draft of the Historic Preservation element, linked here: DRAFT Maplewood HPE of the Master Plan

• Watching the public presentation to the Planning Board, to be held virtually on Tuesday, September 9^th at 7:30 pm

The Township of Maplewood has been awarded a grant from the State of New Jersey, Department of Environmental Protection, State Historic Preservation Office under the Certified Local Government program funded by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, which is funding this project.