Township of Scotch Plains Community Profile
Named one of the best places to live in America in 2019 by Niche.com, Scotch Plains is known for its excellent public school system, safe communities, residential neighborhoods, charming downtown, family life, and diversity. Scotch Plains’ downtown was nominated as of one best downtowns in New Jersey in 2018 by NJ.com readers.
With over 9 square miles and a population over 24,000, Scotch Plains has many happening places to visit and events to attend throughout the year. Scotch Plains is located in the western portion of Union County and is bordered by Plainfield, Fanwood and Somerset County to the west, Berkeley Heights and Mountainside to the north, Westfield to the east, and Clark to the southeast. Directly south of Scotch Plains is Middlesex County. Scotch Plains was settled by European Quakers in the late 17th century, and developed as a stagecoach stop between New York and Philadelphia.
In addition to several parks, Scotch Plains has many recreational amenities, including part of the Watchung Reservation in the north, Shackamaxon Country Club, Ash Brook Golf Course, and the Shady Rest at Scotch Hills Golf Course, which contains the first African-American country club in the nation. It’s golf pro, John Shippen, was the first American born professional golfer to enter the U.S. Open Championship.
In 2018, Scotch Plains was named as one of the seven “Healthy Towns to Watch” in New Jersey thanks to its robust and successful Mayor’s Wellness Program. The Mayor’s Wellness Program focuses on incentive programming to keep residents healthy both physically and mentally.
Scotch Plains has an exceptional place in American History during the Revolutionary War. The Scotch Plains Baptist Church stands in the heart of downtown. Original settlers and twenty-four Revolutionary War soldiers are buried within its historic cemetery. Also located in downtown Scotch Plains is the historic Osborn Cannonball House, which has been in Scotch Plains since 1777. Both British and Continental troops marched past its front door during the Revolutionary War years in the Battle of Short Hills. The Osborn Cannonball House has been converted into a museum featuring many items in the Revolutionary War. It is also open for special events and is included in an annual historic festival sponsored by Union County called Four Centuries in a Weekend.
The Frazee House, constructed circa 1720-1740, played a role in the American Revolution. In this house, Elizabeth “Aunt Betty” Frazee, a prolific baker, turned away General Cornwallis and his troops who wanted her freshly baked loafs of bread. These historic assets make Scotch Plains a regional destination.
Scotch Plains has a historic downtown shopping district along Park Avenue, known for its many “mom-and-pop” small businesses. Downtown contains many famous and successful businesses such as John’s Meat Market, the Stage House Tavern, and Darby Road Pub House. Downtown also contains many boutique, antique stores, and specialty shops along both Park Avenue and East Second Street. Scotch Plains also has a strong business corridor on Route 22.
The Alan M. Augustine Village Green in downtown Scotch Plains features many successful events such as a Summer Concert Series, Movies Nights, an annual Downtown Race to Summer 5k race, holiday celebrations, wellness fairs, and more. The Scotch Plains Farmer’s Market runs every Saturday from May to November from 8:00am to 2:00pm in downtown in the Municipal Building Parking Lot, attracting visitors from all over the state.
Scotch Plains is currently undergoing a major downtown redevelopment plan to attract new businesses, housing, and vibrancy to the downtown. After 35 years of previous attempts, the Township of Scotch Plains is finally moving forward with a downtown redevelopment plan issuing the first Request for Proposals (RFP) from November 2018 to February 2019 to solicit proposals from developers to redevelop the 8.22 acres of publicly owned properties along Park Avenue, Bartle Avenue, and Westfield Avenue.
The Township is currently in negotiations with developers for the first time in history in response to that RFP. Scotch Plains prides itself with its inclusive redevelopment process involving residents, businesses owners, and property owners in the process. Scotch Plains has also started redevelopment studies for the East Second Street business district creating more opportunities for new businesses and investment.
In addition to downtown redevelopment, major projects being discussed and to be completed, include, but not limited to, the following:
Opening a Business in Scotch Plains
Business owners should choose Scotch Plains as the location to open their business. We love welcoming new businesses to our town, and you can expect a positive environment where business investments are encouraged and appreciated.
If you’re interested in opening a business in Scotch Plains, please visit: https://www.scotchplainsnj.gov/departments/business-economic-development/opening-a-business-in-scotch-plains/
Downtown Redevelopment Committee
The Mayor and Township Council established a 21-member Downtown Redevelopment Committee to lead Scotch Plains’ redevelopment efforts.
This Committee, comprised of Township officials, business owners, and residents, welcomes and encourages developers and investors to review our downtown redevelopment plans and attend our meetings to learn about opportunities in our downtown. For more information, please visit: https://www.scotchplainsnj.gov/departments/downtown-redevelopment-committee/
Important Facts and Information
www.scotchplainsnj.gov/
Town Hall 430 Park Ave, Scotch Plains
(908) 322-6700
Mayor and Township Council
Mayor Joshua G. Losardo
Deputy Mayor Elizabeth Stamler
Councilmember Roshan 'Roc' White
Councilmember Ellen Zimmerman
Councilman Matt Adams
Departments
Administration
Al Mirabella, Township Manager (908) 322-6700 ext. 315 amirabella@scotchplainsnj.com
Margaret Heisey, Deputy Township Manager (908) 322-6700 ext. 314 mheisey@scotchplainsnj.com
Tom Strowe, Project Coordinator for Redevelopment/Municipal Housing Liaison (908) 322-6700 ext. 317 tstrowe@scotchplainsnj.com
Clerk
Bonnie Lacina, Township Clerk (908) 322-6700 ext. 211 blacina@scotchplainsnj.com
Department of Public Works
Frank DiNizo, Director (908) 322-6700 ext. 234 or 244 fdinizo@scotchplainsnj.com
Finance
Teddy Georgiou, Chief Financial Officer (908) 322-6700 ext. 200 tgeorgiou@scotchplainsnj.com
Municipal Court
Martha Marino, Court Administrator (908) 322-6700 ext. 215 mmarino@scotchplainsnj.com
Recreation Department
DJ Salvante, Director Parks & Recreation (908) 322-6700 ext. 220 djsalvante@scotchplainsnj.com
Tax Assessor
Mike Ross, Tax Assessor (908) 322-6700 ext. 206 mross@scotchplainsnj.com
Building Department
Robert LaCosta, Zoning/Construction Official (908) 322-6700 ext. 308 blacosta@scotchplainsnj.com
Public Safety
Police Scotch Plains Police Department 430 Park Ave, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 (908) 322-7100 https://scotchplainspolice.org/
Ted Conley, Police Chief (908) 322-6700 ext. 100 t.conley@scotchplainspd.org
Fire Scotch Plains Fire Department
Two stations, Station #161 (430 Senger Place) and Station #162 (1920 Raritan Road) https://www.scotchplainsnj.gov/departments/public-safety/fire/
John Lestarchick, Fire Chief (908) 322-6700 ext. 500 jlestarchick@scotchplainsnj.com
Office of Emergency Management
430 Park Ave https://www.scotchplainsnj.gov/departments/public-safety/oem/
Dennis VanNatta, OEM Director (908) 322-6700 ext. 185 dvannatta@scotchplainsnj.com
Rescue Squad
1916 Bartle Ave, Scotch Plains, NJ 07076 (908) 322-2103 https://www.scotchplainsrescuesquad.com/
Carolyn Sorge, Rescue Squad Chief
Library
The Scotch Plains Public Library 1927 Bartle Ave, Scotch Plains, NJ
Phone: (908) 322-5007
Website: https://www.scotlib.org/
Michelle Willis, Library Director (908) 322-5007 ext. 202 mwillis@scotlib.org
Scotch Plains Post Office
07076 536 Park Avenue
(800) 275-8777
Quick Facts
General Characteristics
• Land Area – 9.0 Square Miles
• Scotch Plains Population – approx. 24,339
• Median Age – 43.3
• Persons Per Square Mile – 2,698.2 Economics & Demographics (Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2013-2017, 5-Year Estimates)
• Per Capita Income - $56,722
• Median Household Income - $117,765
• Median Housing Value - $481,500
Museums and Cultural Institutions (Sampling)
• Shady Rest – Scotch Hills Country Club – https://www.scotchhillsgolfcourse.com/-shady-rest
• Frazee House – https://www.frazeehouse.org/
• Osborne Cannonball House – http://www.historicalsocietyspfnj.org/museum/
• Jewish Community Center of Central Jersey – https://www.jccnj.org/
• Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA – https://fspymca.org/
• Shackamaxon Country Club – https://www.shackamaxoncc.com/
• Ashbrook Golf Course – https://www.ashbrookgolfcourse.com/