New Jersey would save about 43,000 acres of environmentally fragile land by 2028 if it follows the State Development and Redevelopment Plan, according to an impact assessment.
That's 67 square miles.
The Garden State also would save about 17,000 acres of agricultural land if it follows the plan, which encourages development in new and existing centers but is voluntary for counties and municipalities, according to documents.
That's 26 square miles.
Holly Crest Farm in Middletown was preserved in 2008 (file photo by Bradley J. Penner)
Following the plan would also save $4.44 billion in local road infrastructure costs and $500 million in water and sewer infrastructure costs, according to the assessment.
The assessment, dated Dec. 21, was conducted by researchers at the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy of Rutgers University.
It follows the release of a “draft final state plan” by the State Planning Commission.
The current state plan was adopted in 2001, and its revision and readoption are six years overdue, according to New Jersey Future, a research and policy group that promotes smarter growth. The group sent out an e-mail on the issue today.
As a gubernatorial candidate last year, Gov. Chris Christie promised to revitalize the state plan.
“The Christie Administration will drive an improved consistent State Plan that will better coordinate the State's growth, economic, environmental, energy, housing, and transportation agendas. We will ensure consistency of State regulations and local ordinances,”' according to Christie's campaign Web site.
“There must be a ‘Logical and Predictable’ environment for business and government agencies. We need to develop in the right places and just say no in the wrong ones and my Administration will do just that. We will neither further empower short-sighted, narrow special interests nor betray the public trust.”
Christie's transition panel on economic development and job growth recently recommended elevating the State Planning Commission and appointing a cabinet-level executive director.