Photo of NJ Transit’s River Line light rail by Flickr user Schaffner.
New Jersey, the most densely populated state in the nation, has historically been a leader in smart growth efforts. In 1986 the state passed its State Planning Act which, among other things, mandated the creation of a State Development and Redevelopment Plan and a State Planning Commission to oversee the plan. The Plan was subsequently developed and laid out a vision for encouraging growth in areas with existing infrastructure while preserving farmland and open space. To help accomplish this vision, the Plan included a State Plan Map to guide investment decisions.
While New Jersey may have some of the strongest smart growth policies on the books, the results on the ground have been more mixed. Though many state agencies have integrated aspects of the State Plan into their regulations, widespread implementation of the plan does not exist at the state level, where individual agencies continue to pursue their own missions. Locally, the state’s strong home-rule tradition meant that the State Plan was merely advisory for municipalities, and attempts to incentivize compliance have been cumbersome and inconsistent. All of this has led to disappointing results in achieving the State Plan’s goals. While there have been smart growth success stories – like the revitalization of New Brunswick and the Gold Coast in Hudson County – the state continues to lose open space to low-density development at an alarming rate.
Now, in an effort to reinvigorate state level planning, as well as spark economic development and job growth in the state, Governor Christie released a new State Strategic Plan to replace the State Development and Redevelopment Plan. The Strategic Plan is organized under four key goals: targeted economic growth, effective planning for vibrant regions, preservation and enhancement of critical state resources, and tactical alignment of state government. In addition, the new Plan will establish “Priority Growth Investment Areas” and “Priority Preservation Areas.” The Plan also incorporates recommendations from the Governors’ Institute on Community Design, a partner of Smart Growth America, which held a workshop with members of the Christie administration earlier this year to advise them on the planning process.
Christie’s plan has drawn qualified praise from Smart Growth America’s coalition partner New Jersey Future. In a recent op-ed, New Jersey Future Executive Director Peter Kasabach described the Plan’s approach as “practical” and “action-oriented,” and said the plan offers “a map to a healthy, prosperous, sustainable future.” Like previous smart growth efforts in the state, administrative buy-in and involvement will be critical to the long-term success of this initiative. With the release of this strategic plan, the Governor has clearly shown an interest in harnessing smart growth as a tool for economic development, though only time will tell whether the administration can maintain its commitment to this process during the implementation of the plan.
Beyond New Jersey, Governor Christie’s Strategic Planning effort could provide a model for other states looking to marry statewide land-use planning with action oriented economic development efforts. To follow all the latest on New Jersey’s Strategic Growth Plan, and everything else smart growth related in New Jersey, head over to New Jersey Future’s Future Facts blog.