Cluster Development Bill

Municipalities need better tools to put development where it makes the most sense – where it will enhance their communities and where services can be provided in an efficient manner.  They also seek affordable ways to create parks and to preserve the open spaces, farmland and historic sites their residents treasure.  Existing planning tools, like clustering, can help them reach their objectives at minimal cost to the taxpayer, but these tools need improvement. 

New Jersey Future has worked with many partners to craft the cluster development bill, which has been introduced as A3761 by Assemblyman Green (D-22) and Assemblyman Clifton (R-12) and as S2608 by Senator Van Drew (D-1) and Senator Oroho (R-24).

 The bill is “permissive.”  It amends the Municipal Land Use Law to update authority for contiguous and non-contiguous clustering and lot-size averaging.

Status Updates

• S2608: Approved by the Senate Community and Urban Affairs Committee, March 4 (5-0); ready for vote in the full Senate, which meets next on May 13.

• A3761: Approved by the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee, March 7 (6-0); approved by the full Assembly, April 29 (74-0, one abstention).

We are delighted by the powerful and growing coalition around this effort, which includes the following supporters:

We thank the bill’s sponsors in the Assembly: Green (D-22), Clifton (R-12) and Handlin (R-13), and in the Senate: Van Drew (D-1) and Oroho (R-24).

Learn more:

• Overview of cluster development and the legislation
• Bill summary
• Full text of both bills (which are identical): A3761 and S2608
• Background information on cluster development:
  • How clustering works
  • Presentations from New Jersey Future’s webinar, The Nuts and Bolts of Noncontiguous Clustering
  • Case study report on noncontiguous cluster: Preserving Land through Market Real Estate Transactions
  • Final report of the New Jersey Future Transfer of Development Rights Task Force

To join this effort, please contact New Jersey Future Senior Director of State Policy Chris Sturm  (csturmnjfutureorg)  .