State Planning
Where and how we grow is fundamental to New Jersey’s economic prosperity, environmental health and social equity.
In 1986, recognizing the critical role the state must play in directing future growth and aligning resources accordingly, New Jersey adopted the State Planning Act — a groundbreaking effort to coordinate land-use planning among state agencies and different levels of government. The act mandated the creation of the State Development and Redevelopment Plan (the “State Plan”), as well as the formation of the State Planning Commission and its staff, now housed at the Office of Planning Advocacy in the Department of State.
But 20 years’ experience with state planning has produced mixed results. The State Plan vision for strong communities and preserved open lands is widely shared and has helped shape development patterns. But, for a variety of reasons, the Plan has not been fully implemented by either state agencies or municipalities. In response, in early 2011 the Christie administration began a process that culminated in October 2011 in the release of a proposed a new State Plan update called the State Strategic Plan.
See the latest information on the State Strategic Plan, including the latest draft of the Plan, statements from New Jersey Future, press coverage and analysis, and links to upcoming meetings and to state agency implementation steps.
N.J. Lt. Gov. Guadagno will deliver the opening remarks at Redevelopment Forum 2012, focusing on how the state is streamlining its incentives to foster growth while preserving critical resources.
The newly released the Priority Growth Criteria will determine where state development and preservation incentives will be directed. They need to be refined and tested to ensure they support the State Planning Act and work in accordance with smart-growth principles.
Liveblog of the first public hearing on the State Strategic Plan.
New Jersey Future’s reaction to Gov. Christie’s State of the State address.
Six public hearings on the State Strategic Plan have been scheduled in February and early March at various locations around New Jersey.
Some frequently-asked questions about how smart growth would affect New Jersey’s future development, including how it affects traffic, taxes, and land preservation.
Jan. 17, 2012 — Today’s State of the State message offers Governor Christie an opportunity to make a forceful statement about fulfilling his administration’s pledge to promote targeted economic growth, effective planning for vibrant regions, preservation and enhancement of critical state resources and tactical alignment of government through implementation of the State Strategic Plan.
James G. Gilbert has been a tireless advocate for state planning, smart growth and sustainable development in New Jersey.
2010 Smart Growth Awards: Edwards was a key player in implementation of the State Planning Act of 1985 and an effective voice for smart growth in New Jersey for more than 25 years.
Geographic patterns in building permit activity offer insights into macroeconomic forces that influence people’s residential location decisions. They provide a preview into what types of places will be gaining population in the future. This report compares the 10 years’ worth of building permit data through 2009 with that of the previous decade. December 2010.
See all Future Facts and Articles in this category »
Reports, Presentations and Testimony
- 01/17/2012: Reaction to State of the State Address
- 11/30/2011: Coalition Statement on Grow NJ Bill
- BBzik State Strategic Plan Somerset County Perspective 11-4-2011
- Smart Growth NJ August 2011 Poll Report
- DKennedy State Strategic Plan APA-NJ 11-4-2011
- 11/11/2011: Statement: Recommendations to the State Planning Commission
- 11/14/2011: State Planning Act-State Strategic Plan Consistency Review
- Executive Order-78
- Best Practices in State and Regional Planning 5-11 (Intern report)
- 03-05-2010 Statement to Housing Opportunity Task Force
- Presentation: New Jersey's State Plan: Where We Are and What's Next 11-09
- Planning Ahead 11-09
- Where Are We Growing? State Plan Forum summary 10-09
- Presentation: Proposal for State Planning Commission 10-09
- 06-11-2009 Letter to Gov Corzine re State Plan and Planning Commission
- 04-22-2009 Letter to State Planning Commission on Draft State Plan
- 04-13-2009 Letter re Spending of Stimulus Funds
- 04-07-2009 Common Ground Statement of Principles on Federal Stimulus
- Getting to Work 11-08
- Property Tax Reform and Land Use 07-06
- Affordable Housing Policy 10-04
- Race to the Middle: The Homogenization of New Jersey's Population Density
- Smart Conservation: The "Green" Side of Smart Growth
- Realistic Opportunity? The Distribution of Affordable Housing and Jobs in New Jersey
