Hunterdon County is considering moving to a single, county-wide school district. This would not only save overhead and administrative costs, it would have significant land-use benefits, including the possibility of cheaper and more diverse housing.
Local Planning
Why Hunterdon County Should Regionalize Its School Districts
Friday, January 27th, 2012Is Route 1 a Street … or a Road?
Wednesday, January 11th, 2012What’s the difference between a street and a road? Focusing on the different primary purposes of each could help bring clarity to the discussion over how to address the traffic congestion on major arteries like Route 1 in Mercer County, and how best to implement a bus rapid transit system there.
Demand Grows for Smart-Growth Work Environments
Wednesday, January 4th, 2012A new survey shows that office workers in the Garden State want many of the amenities that smart-growth locations offer, including food, access to transit, and access to downtowns.
Byram Township Wins National Smart-Growth Grant
Friday, December 9th, 2011In addition to winning a New Jersey Future Smart Growth Award, Byram Township has also won a national technical-assistance grant for its planned Village Center.
Compact Downtown Development Offers Property Tax Benefits
Thursday, November 17th, 2011An analysis of properties in New Brunswick and the Morristown area finds that compact downtown developments pay significantly higher property taxes per acre than lower-density development located outside downtown areas.
Town’s Balanced Approach to Transportation Wins Leadership Award
Thursday, November 17th, 2011Hoboken’s adoption of a Complete Streets approach — which shifts the emphasis from accommodating more cars and parking to making roadways more convenient for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders and automobiles — has earned the city a Leadership Award from Sustainable Jersey.
Addressing Obesity Through Smart Planning
Sunday, October 23rd, 2011Complete streets, safe routes to school and joint-use policies can help change the built environment and increase access to existing facilities, thereby offering multiple additional opportunities for physical activity.
New Jersey Residents Are Concerned About How the State Has Developed
Tuesday, October 11th, 2011New Jersey residents are unhappy about recent growth patterns, saying they have made the state expensive and difficult to travel. They support coordinated planning to protect natural resources, foster walkable communities and enhance transportation options.
Menendez Focuses on TOD Funding in Updated Livable Communities Act
Thursday, September 29th, 2011Sen. Menendez introduces an updated Livable Communities Act, including funding to spark private investment in transit-oriented development.
Accommodating Growth in Mercer County
Thursday, August 11th, 2011Development pressures in Mercer County are likely to increase in the next 25 years, exacerbating traffic and loss of open space. Redevelopment is one way to address this problem, by accommodating new growth in areas with existing development and infrastructure. However, redevelopment efforts can face strong public resistance. New Jersey Future convened several groups of thought leaders in Mercer County to examine some of the reasons for this resistance, and to highlight steps that can be taken in the future to minimize it.