A new bill streamlines New Jersey’s portfolio of economic incentives, but unless it is amended it will go too far toward subsidizing sprawl development.
Tax Policies
Economic Opportunity Act Will Dilute State Incentives and Subsidize Sprawl – Unless Amended
Wednesday, March 13th, 2013In Targeting Incentives, Location Matters
Wednesday, January 16th, 2013As New Jersey’s economic-development incentives get restructured, it’s important that they preserve a location component, so that they are directed to the places most appropriate to receive them.
The Coming Boom in White Elephants
Wednesday, January 2nd, 2013A new Rutgers report highlights the coming problem of aging and abandoned suburban office parks. Those facilities that cannot be repurposed to meet the market demand for mixed-use, transit-accessible employment centers should not be the recipients of state job-creation incentives.
Johnson & Johnson To Establish Innovation Centers
Wednesday, September 19th, 2012Johnson & 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.
Sustainable Sites Can Accommodate New Jersey’s Solar Needs
Friday, May 18th, 2012Incentives for solar facility development on brownfields and landfills should be made more attractive than incentives to develop on farmland and other open lands.
Why Hunterdon County Should Regionalize Its School Districts
Friday, January 27th, 2012Hunterdon 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.
Planning Advocates Call For Amendments to Economic Development Bill
Thursday, December 1st, 2011The proposed Grow NJ bill in its current form undermines the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit goals. We urge adoption of four amendments that will keep the incentives properly focused.
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.
Proposal Would Reverse Policy of Targeting Energy-Efficiency Incentives to Smart-Growth Areas
Wednesday, October 12th, 2011The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities has issued a proposal that would reverse its policy of targeting energy-efficiency incentives to smart-growth areas, and is soliciting public comment.
On Balance, New Legislative Effort Keeps Urban Transit Hub Incentives Intact
Thursday, September 22nd, 2011Should a new bill that uses funds originally allocated to the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit program raise a red flag for smart growth and transit advocates?
