4. OVERVIEW
County Investment Framework Goals
Support ongoing regional and local smart growth,
preservation, economic revitalization, sustainability
and resiliency planning initiatives
Achieve tactical alignment of land use, infrastructure
and preservation plans, resources, programs, policies
and investment decisions
Convey a clear investment message regarding local
and regional land use priorities to both public and
private sectors
5. Somerset County
Comprehensive Economic
Development Strategy
Supporting Priority
Investment in Somerset
County through Access and
Mobility Improvements
Supporting Priority
Investment in Somerset
County Phases I,II, and III
OVERVIEW
6. SUPPORTING PRIORITY INVESTMENT IN SOMERSET
COUNTY: PHASE 1
KEY FINDINGS
Socio-economic Analysis
Improvement to Land Value Analysis
Labor and Industry Analysis
Business Inventory and Industry Cluster Analysis
Real Estate Supply and Demand Analysis
Transportation and Utility Infrastructure Analysis
Baseline Conditions: Land Use
Assessment of Land Use Policies & Workforce Housing
Build-out Analysis
7. SUPPORTING PRIORITY INVESTMENT IN SOMERSET
COUNTY: PHASE 1
SOCIO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
Household and population growth flat through 2018
Demand for Senior and multi-family housing dominates
Median Household Income is among the highest in the Nation
IMPROVEMENT TO LAND VALUE ANALYSIS:
Low ILV Commercial land comprise 18% of all Commercial
acreage and Industrial Land comprise 17% of all Industrial
acreage within PGIAs. Low ILV Low ILV Concentrations occur
in the following PGIAs:
I-287 Industrial Complex, Franklin
Meister Ave. /North Branch Station, Branchburg
VA Depot, Hillsborough
8. SUPPORTING PRIORITY INVESTMENT IN SOMERSET
COUNTY: PHASE 1
LABOR AND INDUSTRY ANALYSIS
Unemployment rates lower than the State, but still higher
than pre-recession levels
New jobs will come from replacement openings, rather than
new job creation
Growth in the health care and social assistance industry will
grow fastest
BUSINESS INVENTORY AND CLUSTER ANALYSIS
Over 80% of available and rentable commercial, office and
industrial space falls within PGIAs
The highest number of large businesses & facilities are found
in the Regional Center, Green Brook Route 22 Corridor and
Hamilton St./Renaissance Area
9. SUPPORTING PRIORITY INVESTMENT IN SOMERSET
COUNTY: PHASE 1
REAL ESTATE SUPPLY & DEMAND: RESIDENTIAL
Demand for new units is expected to exceed the number of new units to
be constructed in the future
Demand for smaller, entry-level multi-family and rental housing will grow
Delivery of workforce housing is dependent on local land use policies, and
is an economic development imperative
REAL ESTATE SUPPLY & DEMAND: OFFICE
Office Vacancy Rate in Somerset County rose to 26.6 % in 2013, exceeding
surrounding areas
The existing inventory of office space should more than satisfy new
demand, assuming it can be reconfigured to meet today’s smaller space
requirements
A 20% vacancy rate is projected for 2015
10. SUPPORTING PRIORITY INVESTMENT IN SOMERSET
COUNTY: PHASE 1
REAL ESTATE SUPPLY & DEMAND: INDUSTRY
Vacancy rate is lower than in surrounding central and north
Jersey counties
Large and growing industrial space inventory with an overall
vacancy rate of 5.7%
REAL ESTATE SUPPLY & DEMAND: RETAIL
7.3 million sq. ft. of retail space Countywide
The projected combined vacancy rate for retail space is above
10 percent for 2017, and currently exceeds that of nearby
counties
As retail space becomes obsolescent, repurposing strategies
will be needed
11. SUPPORTING PRIORITY INVESTMENT IN SOMERSET
COUNTY: PHASE 1
ASSESSMENT OF LAND USE POLICIES & WORKFORCE HOUSING
Complex PGIAs with diverse zoning districts may have a
combination of both adequate and inadequate zoning policies
PGIA-specific recommendations include increasing FAR
and/or residential densities and mixed-use opportunities
BUILDOUT ANALYSIS
Additional capacity for growth exists in all PGIAs – but at
different levels
Redevelopment and re-use represents the greatest potential
for new residential growth
Development of vacant land represents the greatest
opportunity for commercial and industrial growth within
PGIAs
12. SUPPORTING PRIORITY INVESTMENT IN SOMERSET
COUNTY: PHASE 2
Market Assessment
Based on CoStar data, demographics and employment data
Assessment of land use categories and vacancy rates
Analysis of office vacancy, job growth, absorption rates
Comparison to 5 surrounding counties
Evaluate market trends
Identify opportunities for targeted development
13. SUPPORTING PRIORITY INVESTMENT IN SOMERSET
COUNTY: PHASE 2
Office and Retail
Vacancy among the highest in region
Projected employment growth lower than all but Union
Co.
Currently available vacancies exceed demand through
2035
Points to need for innovative strategies for re-use
Mixed-use and restaurant uses
Account for smallest share of space, but lowest vacancy
Vacancy rates low throughout the region
Region-wide opportunity
14. SUPPORTING PRIORITY INVESTMENT IN SOMERSET
COUNTY: PHASE 2
Warehousing and Light Industry
Accounts for 23.6% of rentable space in Somerset
Lacks connections to NJ Turnpike of nearby counties
Middlesex dominates regional warehousing market
Somerset positioned for small industry and warehousing
Somerset has 2nd lowest warehousing vacancy rate
Manufacturing
Accounts for 10.4% of rentable area
Comparable to surrounding counties
20. IMPLEMENTATION SUCCESS STORIES
Outlined a Consensus Vision for Somerset County’s
Future
Resources and Information to Inform Local Decision
Makers
Strengthened Linkages Between Master Plan
Elements and Planning Initiatives
Municipal Master Plan and Zoning Ordinance
Reviews and Updates
Leveraged Additional Grant Resources
21. QUESTIONS?
For more information, please contact:
Walter C. Lane, AICP/PP
Director of Planning
Somerset County Planning Division
(908) 231-7021
lane@co.somerset.nj.us