2406, 2416, 2450 Plainfield Avenue Redevelopment Plan

This Redevelopment Plan will put the zoning in place to allow for the relocation of the Township’s emergency services facilities (Police, Fire Headquarters (HQ) / Emergency Management Services (EMS), Office of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Rescue Squad to 2406, 2416, and 2450 Plainfield Avenue. The emergency services facilities in the Township are outdated and in need of a centralized, modern facility designed to serve our community for the next century.

The relocation of emergency services to 2406 and 2416 Plainfield Avenue was originally outlined in the “Redevelopment Plan for the Tier 1, Phase 1 Section of the Scotch Plains Downtown” endorsed by the Township Council through Resolution 2018-159 on September 25, 2018. The Township later endorsed the relocation of these services through the introduction of Ordinance 2021-26 to establish a “Redevelopment Plan for the Tier 1, Phase 1 Section of Downtown Scotch Plains,” which was endorsed by the Planning Board on October 25, 2021 and adopted by the Township Council on November 8, 2021.

In order to effectuate the provision of the Tier 1, Phase 1 Redevelopment Plan for Downtown Scotch Plains to relocate the Township’s emergency services facility to 2406 and 2416 Plainfield Avenue, the Township Council authorized the Planning Board to conduct a Preliminary Investigation Report to determine if these properties satisfy the redevelopment criteria. On May 23, 2022, the Planning Board approved the Preliminary Investigation Report for the 2406 and 2416 Plainfield Avenue Study Area, which determined that the two properties meet the area in need of redevelopment criteria. The Planning Board memorialized this approval on June 13, 2022. On June 21, 2022, the Township Council adopted Resolution 2022-109 designating 2406 Plainfield Avenue (Block 3401, Lot 1.01) and 2416 Plainfield Avenue (Block 3401, Lot 1.02) as an area in need of redevelopment.

A Redevelopment Plan for 2406 and 2416 Plainfield Avenue, consisting of Block 3401, Lots 1.01 and 1.02 was prepared and introduced by the Township Council on July 11, 2023. On July 24, 2023, the Township Planning Board passed a resolution recommending the Township Council’s approval of the Redevelopment Plan. On August 8, 2023, the Township Council approved Ordinance 2023-13, authorizing the Redevelopment Plan for 2406 and 2416 Plainfield Avenue.

To advance the redevelopment efforts of Downtown Scotch Plains, create new opportunities for affordable housing, and develop a new modern Emergency Services Building in a more suitable centralized location outside a flood hazard area, the Township subsequently evaluated the designation of 2450 Plainfield Avenue as an area in need of redevelopment which is a property adjacent to the existing 2406 and 2416 Plainfield Avenue Redevelopment Aea. 

The expansion of the 2406 and 2416 Plainfield Avenue Redevelopment Area to include 2450 Plainfield Avenue was deemed necessary to improve flexibility and site design and access, as well as decrease residential disturbance.

On May 7, 2024, the Scotch Plains Township Council adopted resolution 2024-92, directing the Planning Board to conduct a Preliminary Investigation to determine whether 2450 Plainfield Avenue (Block 6502, Lot 1.01) qualifies as an area in need of redevelopment. On July 21, 2025, the Planning Board approved the Preliminary Investigation Report for 2450 Plainfield Avenue, which determined that 2450 Plainfield Avenue meets the area in need of redevelopment criteria. On August 19, 2025, the Township Council adopted Resolution 2025-219, designating 2450 Plainfield Avenue (Block 6502, Lot 1.01) as an area in need of redevelopment.

The Township prepared an amended Redevelopment Plan entitled “Redevelopment Plan for 2406, 2416, & 2450 Plainfield Avenue (Block 3401, Lots 1.01 and 1.02 and Block 6502, Lot 1.01) to address the entirety of the Redevelopment Area planned for the relocation of the Township’s emergency services, which encompasses the properties located at 2406, 2416, and 2450 Plainfield Avenue. The 2406, 2416, and 2450 Plainfield Avenue Redevelopment Plan was introduced by the Township Council on September 16, 2025 as Ordinance 2025-26. On September 24, 2025, the Planning Board did a consistency review of the amended Redevelopment Plan and passed a resolution on October 6, 2025 recommending the Township Council’s approval of the amended Redevelopment Plan. On October 28, 2025, the Township Council approved Ordinance 2025-26, authorizing the Redevelopment Plan for 2406, 2416, and 2450 Plainfield Avenue.

Some of the major Goals and Objectives of this Plan are as follows:

• Assemble underutilized tracts of land in need of redevelopment to relocate emergency services from facilities currently located in a flood hazard area and construct a modern facility in a more suitable, efficient location that will ensure the continuity of emergency services, mitigate disruptions caused by potential flooding, and protect the safety and welfare of Township residents, while creating opportunities for development within Downtown Scotch Plains.
• Provide emergency services in one centralized location to create better efficiency and communication between emergency services departments.
• Permit continued on-site operations of the DPW Yard inclusive of, but not limited to, solid waste leaf/vegetative transfer operations and associated equipment storage.
• Continue municipal court operations in Scotch Plains with considerations for adequate space to potentially host other municipalities with future shared (court) service agreements.
• Provide landscaped buffers from adjacent residential uses to mitigate potential visual, light, and noise disturbances from the emergency services activities on site.
• Provide adequate parking spaces and appropriate site design for emergency vehicle storage, circulation, and ingress/egress on site.
• Investigate the impact of the new development on traffic conditions on surrounding rights-of-way specifically Plainfield Avenue/Westfield Avenue.
• Allow emergency services to operate through the transition and during the construction of the new facility to the maximum extent practicable.
• Advance the redevelopment of Downtown Scotch Plains as outlined and envisioned within the Tier 1, Phase 1 Redevelopment Plan.
• Promote smart growth development of realistic affordable housing opportunities within the Township’s downtown area, which possesses existing infrastructure, commercial uses such as retail and restaurant uses, and access to public transportation options.
• Enable the development of realistic affordable housing opportunities within the Township’s Downtown to address the Township’s affordable housing obligations per its Fourth Round Housing Element and Fair Share Plan.
• To the greatest extent possible, preserve any portion of the Redevelopment Plan Area located in Block 3401, Lot 1.01 within the Township’s Conservation Zone that is not used for buildings or impervious coverage as permanent green/open space through programs such as Green Acres or by deed restriction.

The Township is still in the design and planning phase of the project. The plans and elevations shown in the Redevelopment Plan are conceptual in nature and subject to further refinement during the architectural and civil engineering design phase (site plan) of the redevelopment project. The architectural elevations shall be further reviewed for approval by the Planning Board at the time of site plan application.

The Redevelopment Plan envisions the construction of the development in one phase. The phasing of the development is tied to phasing of the Tier 1, Phase 1 Downtown Redevelopment Plan and any associated Redevelopment Agreement(s).

Please check this webpage for future updates.

Click here to download the 2406, 2416 and 2450 Plainfield Ave. Redevelopment Plan, adopted October 28, 2025

Click here to download the 2450 Plainfield Ave. Redevelopment Study, dated June 2025

Click here to download the 2406 and 2416 Plainfield Avenue Redevelopment Plan, adopted on August 8, 2023

Click here to download the Preliminary Investigation Report for the 2406 and 2416 Plainfield Ave. Study Area, dated April 2022