Section 3: Land-Use Plan

The Land-Use Plan provides a guide for future land-use and development within Oakwood. It identifies which lands should be devoted to residential, commercial, public and semi-public land uses. It also describes how various land-use areas should be related and interconnected, and highlights the types of projects and improvements that should be considered within each area.

Even though Oakwood is primarily a built-up community, there will continue to be demand for a modest amount of new residential and commercial development in the future. New development will entail the redevelopment of existing properties and the development of the few remaining vacant land parcels.

The Land-Use Plan builds upon the existing land use structure of Oakwood. It strives to reinforce and strengthen the traditional residential character of the community. Single-family residential development should continue to predominate, and the distinctive qualities and characteristics of individual neighborhoods should be enhanced.

EXISTING LAND-USE

To document existing land-use within Oakwood, a parcel-by-parcel field survey was conducted by the Consultant in July, 2003.

Land-uses were mapped and recorded in the following categories:

• Single-family Residential.
• Two-family Residential.
• Multi-family Residential.
• Retail and Service.
• Office.
• Public Utilities.
• Governmental.
• Schools.
• Parks and Open Space.
• Churches and other Institutional Lands.
• Parking.
• Vacant Land.

Existing land-uses are briefly described below. Existing land-use is illustrated in Figure 3.

Single-Family Residential Areas

Oakwood is primarily a single-family residential community and its neighborhoods are among its most important physical assets.

The City is composed of several different residential neighborhoods, each with somewhat different characteristics such as street configuration, lot sizes, age of housing, and the size and price of homes.

Smaller homes, many of wood frame construction, are located in the southeastern quadrant of the community. This neighborhood is served by a grid system of streets. A similar pattern of development is present in the southwestern portion of Oakwood. Somewhat larger lots characterize the area between Lonsdale and Patterson, although this neighborhood is also served by a grid system of streets.

The single-family neighborhoods west of Far Hills Avenue are characterized by larger lots, larger homes, more varied topography, and a curvilinear street system. In addition, the neighborhood east of Far Hills bordered by Far Hills, Schenck, Schantz and Thruston, shares many of these same characteristics.