Central to the meeting was the public hearing on the circulation element of the master plan. A representative from Harbor Consultants presented updates to the plan, which has been in preparation since late 2025. Notable changes included the removal of a comment concerning Myrtle Avenue’s connection to Westfield, enhancing synergy between Garwood and Westfield for improved circulation, and emphasizing Union County’s transportation plans for modernizing Garwood’s train station. Specific concerns were highlighted, such as monitoring cut-through traffic on North and South Avenue, placement of “no turn” signs, and ensuring developments adhere to parking requirements per site plan approvals.

Board members raised questions and provided feedback on various aspects of the plan. A member pointed out an inconsistency regarding Garwood’s status as the smallest municipality in Union County. This prompted a clarification that Winfield Park is a municipality, confirming Garwood’s second position. Another member recommended adding information about the 113 express bus service to New York City during peak hours, underscoring its significance for commuters. The member detailed the express bus’s schedule and frequency, highlighting improvements in train schedules during rush hour. They suggested including statistics about weekly boardings that may not have been fully captured in the report.

Public parking visibility and safety issues were topics of discussion. A member noted poor visibility of available public parking spaces, particularly at Vermela, and suggested enhancing signage to direct the public to shared parking areas. Despite existing signage, visibility was noted as poor, especially during inclement weather. The need for a master sign indicating parking options and limited parking time in certain areas was mentioned. Safety concerns were raised regarding regulations for parking near driveways, with one member recounting a personal experience where vehicles parked too close to a driveway obstructed visibility and created hazards for drivers exiting the lot. It was suggested that existing codes might already address this issue, with recommendations made to potentially reinforce those regulations to enhance safety.

Concerns about local traffic safety and infrastructure continued, with a participant recounting a stop sign positioned dangerously close to an intersection due to a white line on the road. They suggested that the stop sign should be set back further from the corner to improve safety and raised the question of whether similar issues exist in Garwood, indicating that this should be a matter for the mayor, council, and police chief to investigate. There was strong opposition to a proposed design for speed bumps, with a participant criticizing the design presented in the circulation plan, expressing hope that it would not be implemented.

Sidewalk installation was another significant concern, with the identification of areas within Garwood lacking sidewalks. Grant money was acknowledged as available to assist in adding sidewalks to these areas. Brookside Place and Fourth Avenue were highlighted as needing sidewalks for safety, particularly for children in summer. A board member emphasized the importance of seeking grants for these sidewalk projects, mentioning that Department of Transportation (DOT) money is being utilized for a project to install continuous sidewalks along South Avenue, which has been prioritized. The public works committee is investigating the installation of sidewalks along Oak Street by the recreation complex, due to its high traffic from children during summer months.

The board also discussed the circulation plan document itself, with discrepancies noted in references to electric vehicle charging stations. One board member stated that all existing stations are private and emphasized the need for public EV charging stations for future planning. Public comment included questions about retail parking referenced in the circulation plan, with suggestions for center lines on secondary roads for the benefit of senior drivers. Clarifications were sought on whether these suggestions should be addressed to the planning board or the council.

Further discussions emphasized pedestrian safety and mobility recommendations. The importance of identifying additional intersections for installing pedestrian beacons to improve safety was noted, specifically mentioning the need for push-activated blinking lights at high foot traffic intersections, such as North Avenue near businesses like Rita’s Italian Ice and Frozen Custard. The topic of bike lanes was also discussed, with some confusion regarding existing paths and the need for linking different towns through pedestrian pathways.