Berkeley Heights residents who commute by train or navigate downtown parking may see changes ahead after the Township Council heard a downtown transit and pedestrian plan at its Tuesday, Oct. 6 meeting.

Council President John Foster presided as the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA) presented its Berkeley Heights Downtown Transit & Pedestrian Plan. The plan recommends the township add a "circulation element" to its master plan, focusing on the commercial district along Sherman and Springfield Avenues, according to the township's presentation materials.

The plan includes recommendations to improve pedestrian safety, manage parking and update zoning policies. A draft executive summary of the Berkeley Heights Transit Hub Strategic Plan, dated Sept. 22, laid out the broader vision for the train station area and surrounding commercial corridors, according to township documents.

Parking dominated the discussion.

A speaker during the presentation called parking "a major concern" and noted that while the downtown area appears to have plenty of spaces, the problems vary block by block. The train station area along Sherman Avenue West faces different challenges than Sherman Avenue East, the speaker said, according to the meeting recap.

Council members signal opposition to ordinance

At least two council members stated during the meeting that they intended to vote against a zoning-related ordinance connected to the discussion. One member said "a no vote on this ordinance is the right choice to ensure a lawful and likely more effective solution." Another council member said they would "probably vote no on this as well."

The meeting's closed-caption transcript does not identify which council members made those statements. The specific ordinance number could not be confirmed from available records. The statements appeared to relate to zoning policies tied to the complete streets work.

Complete streets resolution, school-zone ordinance advance

The Oct. 6 agenda also included Resolution 2026-315, a proposed Complete and Green Streets Policy that would prioritize safe, accessible transportation for all users. The resolution states that the policy supports goals of the township master plan but does not specify which goals, NJ21st reported.

Berkeley Heights formally established a Complete & Green Streets Committee in 2025. As of Oct. 6, the township website did not appear to have any 2025 or 2026 meeting agendas or minutes posted for that committee, according to NJ21st. If approved, the policy would require the committee to provide the council with an annual report on implementation, ongoing projects and any exceptions granted.

Separately, Ordinance 2026-21, which had been scheduled for a final vote Oct. 6, was pulled from the agenda. It was replaced by Ordinance 2026-23, which would create a center left-turn lane on Mountain Avenue in front of Mary Kay McMillin School and set a 25 mph school-zone speed limit during specified hours. The ordinance would also prohibit left turns from the school exit onto Mountain Avenue from 8:15 to 9:15 a.m. and 2:30 to 3:30 p.m. on weekdays. That ordinance was introduced Oct. 6 and is scheduled for a public hearing and final vote Oct. 20.

The next Township Council meeting is Oct. 20. Residents can watch the Oct. 6 meeting on the township's YouTube channel.