Working for Smart Growth:
More Livable Places and Open Spaces

 

Planning and Governance

State Planning Commission To Vote on State Strategic Plan

Monday, November 12th, 2012

The final draft State Strategic Plan has been released, and the State Planning Commission will vote on its adoption Nov. 13. New Jersey Future issued a statement on the changes in the plan.

25 Years of Smart Growth in New Jersey

Thursday, November 8th, 2012

The 25 years during which New Jersey Future has advocated for smarter growth have seen some important successes: greater transit use, more land preservation, and a rise in redevelopment activity. However, more work remains to be done.

The Jersey Shore: How To Protect a Treasured Asset?

Friday, November 2nd, 2012

The Jersey Shore is one of the state’s most treasured assets: people live there, vacation there, and work there, and the region is a significant driver of New Jersey’s economic growth. But we must rebuild it in different ways in order for it to survive severe weather events such as Hurricane Sandy. Here are just some of the critical questions that must be addressed at all levels if we’re going to make the Shore a more resilient, more sustainable place.

Johnson & Johnson To Establish Innovation Centers

Wednesday, September 19th, 2012

Johnson & Johnson is establishing four life-sciences innovation centers but none in New Jersey, even though the state has many of the key assets that can make innovation districts successful. New Jersey needs ways to put an innovation district strategy to work here.

State Strategic Plan Recognizes Importance of Ports to NJ’s Economy

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

Ports, and their attendant goods-distribution industries, are one of the pillars of New Jersey’s economy, and they have their own unique land-use needs. To its credit, the New Jersey State Strategic Plan, which articulates a vision for future physical and economic development in the state, recognizes the importance of the ports and cites them as future growth areas.

Targeting Industry and Geography Together to Foster Job Growth

Wednesday, September 12th, 2012

New Jersey has recently been losing jobs in several of the key industries highlighted in the draft State Strategic Plan. An examination of innovation districts as an economic growth strategy suggests state investments in key industries should be strongly linked to the kinds of smart-growth places where they can flourish.

Dunellen and East Orange as Transit Villages: One Designation, Two Strategies

Wednesday, August 29th, 2012

Dunellen and East Orange can each use the Transit Village designation in a way that best serves residents – to increase residential growth (and, presumably, residential values) near a station that should be starting to see higher ridership rates, or to expand employment opportunities and building its commercial tax base.

New Jersey State Plan Update Back On Track

Friday, August 3rd, 2012

The process that will lead to adoption of the State Strategic Plan is moving forward once again, with a final public hearing now scheduled.

New Sewer Service Maps Will Support Responsible Development, Water Protection

Tuesday, July 17th, 2012

Updated Sewer Service Area maps have been filed with the DEP from all 21 New Jersey counties, representing a milestone in providing guidance for responsible development in the state.

Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit at a Crossroads

Thursday, June 28th, 2012

The Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit has proven to be a popular incentive to concentrate jobs and housing around transit hubs. It is approaching its funding cap, which provides a good opportunity to take stock and perhaps adjust. But it also raises important questions about how the state wants to apportion its economic development incentives going forward.

© New Jersey Future.

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