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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.
The previous version of the State Plan was adopted in 2001, during a period in which most of New Jersey’s population growth and development was happening on previously undeveloped land at the exurban fringe, in low-density, use-separated patterns that required more and more car travel.
In the intervening two decades, however, New Jersey’s growth pattern has shifted toward the more compact, walkable, mixed-use type of development and redevelopment envisioned by the State Plan. The shift has reduced development pressure on the state’s remaining open spaces but creates its own set of challenges in terms of the capacity of already-built places to provide housing opportunities, infrastructure, and public services to an influx of new residents and businesses.
On December 4, 2024, Governor Phil Murphy and the State Planning Commission unveiled the long-anticipated preliminary update to the New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan (State Plan). The updated State Plan provides a roadmap to address critical challenges, including climate change, equity, housing affordability, infrastructure modernization, and economic development. Developed by numerous stakeholders, the Plan allows for smoother coordination and planning among state agencies and different levels of government. NJF was a member of the consultant team that assisted the Office of Planning Advocacy with the update to the State Plan.
New Jersey Future has been a key advocate for the State Plan since its founding in 1987, championing smart growth policies to improve communities and safeguard natural resources. NJF remains committed to helping advance the State Plan and ensuring its success across the Garden State, but we can’t do it alone. On the State Plan website you can learn more, explore the Citizen’s Guide that presents the Preliminary Draft State Plan in an easy-to-understand format, and find out about opportunities for community feedback.
07/16/2025
Navigating New Jersey’s REAL Rules
07/01/2025
Planning with Purpose: Beth Osborne Calls for Local Leadership and Smart Coalitions
12/02/2024
Breaking Down the State Revolving Fund – Recommendations and Changes
12/05/2023
New Jersey Future’s Lame Duck Legislative Priorities for 2023-2024
10/12/2023
The NJ State Development and Redevelopment Plan is Being Updated – Where and How Should New Jersey Grow? Add Your Voice!
07/18/2023
Launching the Next State Plan
02/11/2021
Continuing Implications of Broadband Inequity
04/10/2019
New Jersey Future Executive Director To Co-Chair Waterfront Alliance Coastal Resilience Task Force
02/04/2019
New Jersey Future Submits Comments on Proposed Stormwater Rule Amendments
01/14/2019
New Jersey Future’s David Kutner To Receive Statewide Planning Award
01/09/2019
Report Gives New Jersey High Marks for Designating Opportunity Zones in Smart-Growth Locations
12/18/2018
Getting Sewage Off Our Streets and Out of Our Rivers
12/06/2018
DEP Moves to Require Green Infrastructure for Stormwater Management
10/23/2018
DEP Gathers Input at Coastal Resilience Summit on Local Actions To Plan for Climate Change
04/10/2018
Opportunity Zones Take Another Step Forward
04/04/2018
How Do We Pay for New Jersey’s Aging Stormwater Infrastructure?
04/02/2018
A Competition Over Placemaking
12/13/2017
New Report Outlines Coastal Resilience Strategies
11/30/2017
A Year One Clean Water Agenda for the New Governor
11/27/2017
Smart-Growth Policy Priorities Well Represented on Murphy Transition Team
10/25/2017
New Report Shows New Jersey Is Still on the ‘Long Road Home’ After Sandy
10/18/2017
Symposium Addresses Dangers of Inaction on Climate Change
09/28/2017
Analysis: New Jersey Is Losing Its Millennials
09/19/2017
Gubernatorial Candidates on Key Issues Facing New Jersey
09/18/2017
Proposed Rule Change Would Allow Development on Piers
06/28/2017
Many States Making New Investments in Water Infrastructure
05/23/2017
Report: Changes in Affordable Housing Tax Credit Criteria Move More People to High-Opportunity Areas
04/12/2017
New Office Market Report: Transit Service Is Key
03/20/2017
Forum Roundtable: Getting to a Regional Approach to Coastal Resilience
03/10/2017
Recommendations for the Next Governor
02/16/2017
Planning for Sea-Level Rise V: Overlay Zones
01/26/2017
Remembering Caren Franzini
01/24/2017
Developers Convention To Address ‘Why Green Infrastructure?’
01/10/2017
Planning for Sea-Level Rise I: Accounting for Damage
11/16/2016
New Jersey Future Hosts National Gathering
11/08/2016
New Reports Assess State’s Exposure to Sea-Level Rise
09/28/2016
NJ Spotlight on Cities Looks Toward an Urban Agenda for New Jersey
06/23/2016
New Jersey Future Wins National Award for Sandy Report
05/16/2016
Infrastructure Matters
05/13/2016
Fifteen Years of Smart Growth Success
04/04/2016
The Greatest Danger Facing New Jersey’s Water Infrastructure: The Unknown
03/28/2016
Forum Roundup: The Mega-Ships Are Here! Are We Ready?
01/27/2016
Bayside Flooding Highlights Inherent Vulnerability of Barrier Islands
11/19/2015
New Jersey Gets a D+ on New Climate Preparedness Report Card
10/28/2015
Rebuild By Design Resiliency Projects: A Status Update
10/27/2015
Are Towns in a Better Position to Make Long-Term Resiliency Decisions?
08/19/2015
New Jersey Future Trustee Gilbert To Receive NJPO Lifetime Achievement Award
07/10/2015
State Planning Commission Set To Extend Center Designations; Leaves Coastal Towns at Risk
07/08/2015
Making Our Coastline Both Resilient and Prosperous
03/10/2015
COAH Decision Will Allow New Jersey To Move Forward With Fair Housing Process
02/27/2015
New Jersey Enters National Disaster Resilience Contest
02/17/2015
Experts Detail Challenges of Adapting to Climate Change
01/23/2015
Extending Approval for State Plan Centers Could Harm Coastal Towns
12/19/2014
Plan Released for Third Round of Federal Sandy Funds
12/10/2014
Opinion: We Can’t Afford the Price We Pay for Cheap Water
10/28/2014
Preparing for the Next Sandy Requires Facing Hard Facts
09/30/2014
New Jersey Future Partners With Lincoln Institute To Host Resiliency Symposium
09/23/2014
New Jersey Future To Honor Trustee Henry A. Coleman
09/18/2014
New Jersey Should Re-Join Greenhouse Gas Initiative
08/27/2014
Documentary About Coastal Development in New Jersey To Be Shown in Rumson
07/25/2014
New Draft COAH Rules Ignore Potential of Redevelopment
05/14/2014
Investing in Transit Is an Economic Incentive
04/04/2014
Timing of Public Comment Period on State Hazard Plan Raises Questions
03/11/2014
Draft 2014 New Jersey Hazard Mitigation Plan Available for Comment
02/20/2014
New York State Announces Major Investment in Post-Sandy Community Planning and Implementation
02/06/2014
UPDATED: Three Public Hearings Scheduled on New Sandy Action Plan
02/04/2014
New CDBG Action Plan Amendment Considers Resiliency
11/13/2013
HUD Releases Notice for Second Round of Sandy Disaster Recovery Funding
11/04/2013
Nominations Now Open for 2014 Smart Growth Awards
10/30/2013
Lessons From Sandy: Planning for What Lies Ahead
10/25/2013
Key Issues: Divergent Views on Jobs and the Economy
10/22/2013
Key Issues: Silence on the Environment
10/20/2013
Four Key Issues for New Jersey’s Future
10/16/2013
Somerset County’s Investment Framework Gets State Planning Commission Support
09/18/2013
New Legislation Changes the Smart Growth Playing Field
09/04/2013
Time for New Jersey to be Smarter than the Storm
08/19/2013
Sandy Rebuilding Task Force Issues Recommendations
06/12/2013
Bill To Increase Aid to Sandy-Stricken Communities Introduced in Congress
04/04/2013
Concern Expressed Over Lack of Planning Funds in Sandy Recovery Action Plan
03/25/2013
Smart Growth Awards 2013 Winners Announced
12/13/2012
Rebuilding a Resilient New Jersey Shore Conference Recap
11/19/2012
State Planning Commission Postpones Vote on State Strategic Plan
11/12/2012
State Planning Commission To Vote on State Strategic Plan
11/02/2012
The Jersey Shore: How To Protect a Treasured Asset?
09/19/2012
Johnson & Johnson To Establish Innovation Centers
09/12/2012
State Strategic Plan Recognizes Importance of Ports to NJ’s Economy
09/12/2012
Targeting Industry and Geography Together to Foster Job Growth
08/03/2012
New Jersey State Plan Update Back On Track
04/30/2012
State Planning Commission Announces Additional Public Hearing for State Strategic Plan
04/02/2012
New Jersey Future Hails Promise of State Strategic Plan
03/28/2012
State Officials: Redevelopment at the Heart of State Strategic Plan
03/21/2012
State Planning Commission targets April 25 for State Strategic Plan adoption
02/13/2012
Lieutenant Governor To Speak at Redevelopment Forum
02/09/2012
Liveblogging the State Strategic Plan Public Hearing
01/17/2012
Our Take on the State of the State Address
01/09/2012
Public Hearings on State Strategic Plan Begin in February
12/08/2011
Details on State Strategic Plan Begin to Emerge
12/01/2011
Census Data Show Population Growth Has Slowed Across New Jersey
12/01/2011
Planning Advocates Call For Amendments to Economic Development Bill
11/14/2011
State Planning Commission Releases Draft Final State Plan for Public Hearings
11/02/2011
Planning Association Conference Includes Sessions on Current Smart-Growth Issues
11/01/2011
New: Information Page on the State Strategic Plan
10/19/2011
Christie Releases New State Strategic Plan
10/11/2011
New Jersey Residents Are Concerned About How the State Has Developed
07/21/2011
Regional Planning Efforts Have Friends in High Places
05/23/2011
National Experts Advise the Christie Administration on State Strategic Planning
05/04/2011
Fear of School Kids Trumps Land-Use Planning in Robbinsville
03/31/2011
State Reaffirms Commitment to Transit Village Program; Eliminates Funding
02/16/2011
State Planning Commission Meets for the First Time Since 2009
02/10/2011
State Planning Commission to Meet on February 16th After Long Hiatus
01/31/2011
DEP Decision Sets Positive Precedent for Compact Growth
01/05/2011
Insights from Review of “The Ethics of Metropolitan Growth”
12/14/2010
NJ Future Testimony on Affordable Housing Bill
12/02/2010
Smart Growth Produces Economic Benefits Across the Country
11/16/2010
Questions Loom as NJ Transit Considers Privatizing Parking
10/14/2010
Regional Planning Efforts Deliver Results
08/24/2010
Sustainable Communities: The Light at the End of the Tunnel
08/03/2010
NJ Future on WNYC’s Brian Lehrer Show
07/29/2010
Sprawl Not Yet a Thing of the Past
07/28/2010
New Report Shows Suburbanization of NJ Has Picked Up Pace Since 2002
07/23/2010
Lieutenant Governor Announces New State Office of Planning Advocacy
06/18/2010
DEP Announces New Initiative to Combat Transportation Emissions
05/03/2010
Christie’s Red Tape panel deserves praise for recommending a shakeup of N.J. planning process
04/19/2010
“Unpredictability” Tops List of Impediments to Redevelopment According to Forum Attendees
04/09/2010
Urban Centers on Rebound
01/28/2010
2010 Redevelopment Forum Sponsorships
12/23/2009
New Jersey Embraces Smart Growth to Combat Climate Change
11/04/2009
What Will Smart Growth Look Like in a Christie Administration?
11/03/2009
Study Confirms Need to Put Teeth Behind State Smart Growth Plans
10/27/2009
What People Think About State Planning in New Jersey
10/15/2009
Letter to Gubernatorial Candidates
10/08/2009
Where and How is New Jersey Growing?
10/05/2009
Statement from New Jersey Future on State Planning Act
09/28/2009
State Planning: A Picture of Neglect
07/01/2009
Statewide Smart Growth Policies Make a Difference
01/15/2009
NJ Can Brighten its Future by Stretching Stimulus Dollars
08/06/2008
Sprawl Continues to Consume New Jersey’s Open Lands
05/15/2008
Report Outlines Agenda for Urban Transformation
04/14/2008
One Township Blazes a Trail but the State Must Help it Along
04/07/2007
South Jersey: A New Smart Growth Frontier?
09/14/2006
Seeking a Prosperous Garden State
05/16/2006
Gas Prices and Smart Growth
03/06/2006
New Jersey’s Five-Year Plan
09/30/2005
State Plan Update Still Stalled
01/19/2004
Seeking Smart Growth Momentum
11/14/2003
New Way to Pay for Schools
10/24/2003
Big Map Bows to State Plan
07/20/2003
Saving New Jersey’s Heritage
01/31/2003
State Budgets and Spending For Development
10/11/2002
Governor Sets Summit for October 22
08/02/2002
Affordable Housing and Sprawl
04/19/2002
Council Kicks Off April 23
02/18/2002
Leaders of the Pack
07/12/2001
State Needs New Water Rules Tied To Growth
