On December 17, the State Planning Commission formally adopted a new State Development and Redevelopment Plan. This is the first update since 2001.
The State Development and Redevelopment Plan serves as a guide to inform the public and encourage State agencies, counties, and municipalities to align their land use policies with its vision. It aims to promote a balanced and inclusive strategy for managing and guiding growth across New Jersey, centered on 10 key land-use priorities.
At its most fundamental level, the plan is an advisory framework for good planning in every region and at every level of government in New Jersey. While certain principles of the planning discipline are universal and evergreen, the efficacy of their application requires the informed consideration of context. As such, the 10 goals of this State Plan represent an articulation of 10 enduring principles to ensure a bright, sustainable, and resilient future for New Jersey. They are presented with equal weight and significance and are presented without ranking or enumeration.
The updated Plan lays out 10 goals and builds upon the State’s ongoing initiatives to address the following areas:
- Economic Development
- Housing
- Infrastructure
- Revitalization and Re-centering
- Climate Change
- Natural and Water Resources
- Pollution and Environmental Cleanup
- Historic and Scenic Resources
- Equity
- Comprehensive Planning
Included along with the adoption, the cost of New Jersey’s estimated infrastructure needs through Fiscal Year 2031 ranges from $104 billion to $311 billion on a range of priorities including transportation; energy; telecommunications; farmland retention; shore protection; water supply; wastewater disposal; stormwater management and flood protection; public recreation and open space; public healthcare; solid waste management; public education; higher education; public libraries; arts, culture, and historic resources; public safety, justice, and corrections; and publicly subsidized affordable housing.
The League will review the plan and report back in the near future. As local governments are responsible for land use planning, we encourage municipalities to review the plan and enact priorities that you determine are appropriate and in the best interests of your community and its residents.
Contacts: Mike Cerra, Executive Director, mcerra@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x120, and Paul Penna, Director of Government Affairs, ppenna@njlm.org, 609-695-3481, x110.