Comments on the State Plan
To the State Planning Commission
From the Regional Planning Partnership
Presented by Dianne R. Brake
RPP President
August 30, 2006
Thank you for providing Regional Planning Partnership (RPP) with the opportunity to submit our comments on the Preliminary State Development and Redevelopment Plan for your consideration.
I have based these comments on extensive experience with state planning in New Jersey: besides the six years I spent on the State Planning Commission (SPC) between 1996 and 2001, RPP has worked for more than 30 years to ensure that New Jersey has the comprehensive and integrated planning programs that New Jersey needs to meet its economic, environmental and social justice goals.
Our comments are also based on our Smart Growth Economy Project, work that we have been doing for over a year. I hope that our work will provide you with direction on how to bridge any gap that may arise between the Governor's Strategic Economic Growth Plan and the State Development and Redevelopment Plan.
In addition, our comments are based on the planning strategies and tools that we have been developing over the last 10 years to fill gaps, solve problems and improve the practice of planning at all levels, ensuring that the future that we get is the future that we want.
Attached is a fuller document providing more context for our five recommendations, which are in sum:
#1: Fix an omission from the State Planning Act and add a goal on social and economic justice.
#2: Be clear about how much growth we need in order to accomplish our goals and set targets by location
based on existing laws and regulations.
#3: Organize the next Plan around five cross-cutting strategies connected to Smart Growth
outcomes:
Provide room for beneficial economic growth; balance jobs and housing statewide. Reduce auto-dependency; enhance transit opportunities Reduce the concentration of poverty; provide better access to opportunity (good jobs, sound housing, safe neighborhoods, good schools, and parks and natural resources) Protect the lands that will protect water resources and natural habitats Challenge new development by setting targets to improve existing environmental conditions
#4: Integrate the Statewide Policies with the State Plan Policy Map by setting targets by regions.
#5: Use the State Planning Act as your guide.
More Detail on Recommendations
Also know that RPP is ready to help you in any way that we can to make the best State Plan for New Jersey. Members of my Board and staff are ready to talk with you at your convenience, about any of these recommendations.