Working for Smart Growth:
More Livable Places and Open Spaces

 

Preserving Land through Market Real Estate Transactions

Nine Approaches and Four Success Stories


Innovative, affordable efforts to create an alternative to sprawl development are illustrated in New Jersey Future’s new report, “Preserving Land through Compact Growth: Case Studies of Noncontiguous Clustering in New Jersey.” 

The report focuses on the nine townships that have adopted noncontiguous clustering ordinances: Delaware, Hillsborough, Hopewell (Mercer County), Middle, Monroe, North Hanover, Ocean, Plainsboro and Robbinsville.  Each case study includes photographs capturing the character of the natural and built environment; a map of the project area or municipality; and a summary of the key features of the master plan, ordinance(s) and implementing projects, if available, with links to supporting documents. 

Plainsboro
Robbinsville
Monroe
Middle
Hopewell
Hillsborough
Delaware
NHanover

McCormack Lake, located in the Plainsboro Preserve. Photo: Nicole Heater

Mixed-use retail and residential units on North Commerce Square in Robbinsville. Photo: Nicole Heater

Skeba farm in Monroe, permanently preserved. Photo: Nicole Heater

Rural Conservation zone adjacent to Jenkins Sound in Middle Township. Photo: Nicole Heater

Featherbed Lane in the MRC District near the Sourland Mountain trail system in Hopewell. Photo: Nicole Heater

Single-family units and detention basin at Hillsborough Chase. Photo: Nicole Heater

Horse farm in Delaware Township. Photo: Nicole Heater

Farmland in N. Hanover. Photo: Nicole Heater

Plainsboro thumbnail
Robbinsville thumbnail
Monroe thumbnail
Middle thumbnail
Hopewell thumbnail
Hillsborough thumbnail
Delaware thumbnail
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In addition, the report highlights success stories in four of these communities, where landowners and developers have taken advantage of the option to build more compactly on some sites, while preserving farmland and open space on others. The case studies give the details of effective master plans and ordinances, and show the landscapes and land uses that many of the townships seek to preserve.

When authorized as a development option,noncontiguous clustering has great potential for to benefit not just developers and landowners but also municipalities seeking to preserve land and strengthen neighborhoods, especially since it doesn’t involve public money. However, in the 16 years since the noncontiguous clustering tool has been available, only four projects have been completed.

New Jersey Future has been working with colleague organizations to make noncontiguous clustering an easier to use and more powerful planning tool, and will be pursuing amendments to the planning statute.

Download Report: 
Preserving Land through Compact Growth: Case Studies of Noncontiguous Clustering in New Jersey 
(PDF)

© New Jersey Future, 16 W. Lafayette St. • Trenton, NJ 08608 • Phone: 609-393-0008 • Fax: 609-360-8478

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