2016 Annual Summit « PlanSmart NJ

June 7, 2016
8:00 am – 3:30 pm
The War Memorial
Trenton, NJ

Program Book
Summary Report

New Jersey led the nation in developing isolated single use office parks. Today, New Jersey is experiencing an exodus of corporate employers, leaving behind large underutilized office buildings and retail centers and the land on which they sit. While these sites currently are a drain on the economy, they also represent an enormous opportunity to redevelop and redesign the suburbs to be more dynamic, connected, and sustainable. If repurposed correctly, New Jersey could lead the nation in how suburbs can be redesigned to be more efficient. The Regional Planning Summit: Repurpose, Reuse, Revitalize will highlight opportunities and success stories on how stranded real estate assets can be turned into dynamic communities.

Keynote Speaker: Greg Lindsay

As a journalist, urbanist, and futurist, Greg focuses on the intersection of transportation, urbanization, and globalization. He is a senior fellow of the New Cities Foundation, where he leads their Connected Mobility Initiative; a non-resident senior fellow of The Atlantic Council in their Strategic Foresight Initiative; a contributing writer for Fast Company; and coauthor of Aerotropolis: The Way We’ll Live Next. His writing has appeared in many media outlets, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. He is also a regular speaker on the topic of the future of how we will live and do business. Greg brings a unique perspective to the table about how globalization, innovation, and the future of cities will affect our everyday interaction with the built environment.

Agenda:

8:00 – 8:30: Registration and Continental Networking Breakfast

8:30 – 8:35: Welcome: Karen Jezierny, Princeton University and PlanSmart NJ Board President

8:35 – 8:40: Introduction: Mayor Tim McDonough, Hope Township

8:40 – 8:50: The Stranded Assets Problem; How Big is it? Sam Brookham, PlanSmart NJ, Planner – PRESENTATION

PlanSmart NJ has conducted an extensive statewide analysis of vacancies in office parks and retail centers. The findings will be presented and set the stage for a call to action to repurpose struggling assets.

8:50 – 9:20: Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies: Connecting the Dots Matthew Holt, Hunterdon County Freeholder – PRESENTATION

Addressing stranded assets requires planning beyond the site. Hon. Matthew Holt, Hunterdon County Freeholder and NJTPA Executive Committee member will highlight the connections between flexible zoning, transit oriented development, increasing densities and reinventing New Jersey’s suburbs.

9:20 – 10:25: It Is All About Financing

Vacant and underutilized properties can have quite an impact on municipal budgets. Repurposing can be costly but PILOTs can provide incentives to developers to repurpose and plug holes in municipal budgets.

Moderator Richard Goldman, Esq., Drinker Biddle & Reath
Kevin McManimon, Esq., McManimon, Scotland & Baumann, LLC – PRESENTATION
Andrew Janiw, AICP, PP, Beacon Planning and Consulting Services, LLC – PRESENTATION

10:25 – 10:35: Break

10:35 – 11:35: Repurposing Through Proactive Leadership

Promoting a vision and proactive leadership are key to repurposing.

Moderator: Zenobia Fields, North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority – PRESENTATION
Peter Cocoziello, Advance Realty – PRESENTATION
Mike Kerwin, Somerset Business Partnership – PRESENTATION
Walter Lane, AICP, PP, Somerset County Planning Board – PRESENTATION

11:35 – 12:45: Lunch and Keynote Speaker

Greg Lindsay, Senior Fellow of The New Cities Foundation

12:45 – 1:55: Achieving Multiple Goals Through Innovation

Reimagining how a site may be reused is also an opportunity to think about how the site may function and achieve multiple goals. By building upon existing infrastructure and incorporating innovations in energy and green infrastructure these properties can be utilized to enhance sustainable goals and increase efficiency, while meeting affordable housing needs.

Moderator: George Vallone, Hoboken Brownstone
Pam Frank, Gabel Associates
Tavis Dockwiller, ASLA, Viridian Landscape Studio – PRESENTATION
Nat Bottigheimer, Fehr & Peers DC – PRESENTATION
Jim Constantine, PP, Looney Ricks Kiss – PRESENTATION

1:55 – 3:05: Supporting Vibrant Communities Across the State

What makes the state economy flourish? Vibrant communities that not only attract businesses and residents, but also maintain them for the long-term. Meeting this goal takes a comprehensive statewide approach with local support. This panel will discuss numerous state-level recommendations that will help promote the success of New Jersey’s suburbs, such as reinvigorating the State Plan, marketing regional assets, addressing regulatory barriers and promoting workforce development.