Planning for Sustainable Communities: Master Plan Guidance for New Jersey Officials

Planning for Sustainable Communities

Master Plan Guidance

for

New Jersey Officials

American Planning Association
NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

Table of Contents
3
4

Acknowledgements
Introduction

5
10
20

How to Use this Document
Land Use
Housing

25
32

Circulation
Farmland

38
44
50

Open Space & Recreation
Conservation
Economic Development

56

Community Facilities

60
65

Utilities & Infrastructure
Recycling

70

End Notes

71

Photo Credits

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Acknowledgements
I would like to extend great appreciation to the following individuals for lending their time and
talents to this project.

Nick Angarone, AICP/PP, NJ DEP
Mirah Becker, AICP/PP, Middlesex County Planning Department
Donna Drewes, AICP, Sustainability Institute at The College of NJ, Co-director
Jennifer Gonzalez, LEED GA, Louis Berger Group
Maryjude Haddock-Weiler, AICP/PP, New Jersey Highlands Council
Teri Jover, AICP/PP, New Jersey Future
Charles Latini, AICP/PP, APA-NJ Chapter President
Joan McGee, Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association
Elizabeth McManus, AICP/PP, LEED AP, Clark Caton Hintz
Jeff Perlman, AICP/PP, NJ Transportation Planning Authority & APA-NJ Sustainability Committee
Co-Chair
William Purdie, AICP/PP, NJ DEP
Marty Rosen, AICP, NJ DEP
Barbara A. Walsh, AICP/PP
And to anyone else who reviewed the document, contributed photos, and kept the process moving
along... Thank You!
Angela S. Clerico, AICP/PP, LEED AP

Project Director
APA-NJ Sustainability Committee Co-Chair

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Introduction
Given the fast-paced, technology-driven world in which
we live, we are becoming increasingly disconnected
from our natural world. As a recent NY Times article
stated, we have become victim to what Richard Louv in
his 2005 book, “Last Child in the Woods”, coined as a
“Nature deficit disorder.”1

INTRODUCTION

Every day we abide by the laws of our communities, our
homeowners associations, our schools and workplaces.
We must even abide by the law of gravity. We simply
accept it as keeping our feet on the ground. Still, there is
disregard for the laws of nature that constantly have
their hold on us as well. Trees provide oxygen - which
provides life. Energy surrounds us and helps us move
about. Water flows over rocky stream beds and fills
lakes to provide sustenance. Nutrients found naturally
occurring in soils and plants provide nourishment for
our food and our bodies.
Over time our society has developed disregard for these
occurrences and one thing is clear, we have become
disconnected. We have witnessed firsthand the
implications of our disregard: polluted air and water;
degraded soils due to pesticide and fertilizer use;
increased taxes and spending to provide new
infrastructure without first considering existing
facilities; farming is becoming less and less a part of our
community character and many communities lack
access to healthy food; and increased impervious cover
contribute to problems with groundwater infiltration,
stormwater runoff, and the loss of healthy, productive
land.
In an attempt to re-connect to the natural world and turn
this process around, we now focus on “sustainability”
and greater awareness of our actions and their
downstream implications. In August 2008, the
Municipal Land Use Law (MLUL) was amended to
include the Green Building and Environmental
Sustainability plan element (The Sustainability Plan) in
the list of permitted Master Plan elements. The MLUL
describes this new element as the following:

“A green buildings and environmental sustainability plan
element, which shall provide for, encourage, and promote
the efficient use of natural resources and the installation
and usage of renewable energy systems; consider the
impact of buildings on the local, regional and global
environment; allow ecosystems to function naturally;
conserve and reuse water; treat storm water on-site; and
optimize climatic conditions through site orientation and
design.”2
This element, like all Master Plan Elements, is intended to
guide land-use decisions and provide the basis for
ordinances addressing sustainability and land use issues. It
will also help municipalities infuse sustainability concepts
into their existing master plan elements. For municipalities
who wish to develop a stand–alone sustainability plan,
guidance
can
be
found
at
http://
www.sustainablejersey.com .
This guidance document also offers awareness around
changing our actions to avoid reactionary planning to both
the natural and built environment. Planning for future
growth while ensuring current residents get the services
they need is critical for the health of any community.
New Jersey’s draft State Strategic Plan (SSP) outlines three
main goals to ensure the viability of a triple bottom line
approach to planning in the State. Triple Bottom Line
(TBL) can be defined as an expanded spectrum of values
and criteria for measuring organizational (and societal)
success beyond economic profits. TBL is measured by
economic, ecological and societal assets, and is also known
as “people, planet, and profit”. To summarize the vision
stated in the SSP; New Jersey is aligning itself to be a
national leader by coordinating private and public
investment to provide strong ECONOMIC opportunities,
preserve the State’s NATURAL resources, and create
healthier COMMUNITIES to work, reside and recreate.
Deconstructing the traditional master plan, this guidance
document offers new approaches to each of the traditional
plan elements. Following the SSP principles, this
document offers sound local and global examples that any
NJ municipality can tailor to their needs.

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How to Use This Guidance Document

A municipality may choose to update one plan element
at a time or complete a comprehensive review and
update the entire master plan. If updating only one plan
element, be sure to cross-check it with existing plan
elements to remove any conflicting language or barriers
to sustainable approaches.
Where appropriate, the guidance document directs the
reader to the Sustainable Jersey program, for more
information on Sustainability Planning. In some cases,
points toward Sustainable Jersey certification may be
obtained for completing certain portions of the master
plan or inserting sustainability language.
To begin, the document provides a brief ‘Definition of
Sustainability’ and how a municipality may determine
what sustainability looks like in their community. One
way to accomplish this is by ‘Creating a Shared Vision,’
which is discussed just following the definition section.
In each individual section, there are implementation
strategies which include language for incentives to
encourage businesses and residents to implement
sustainable practices. When all of these components are
considered, the municipality is guided to develop
monitoring actions that will ensure sustainable practices
remain as such.

The document is then divided into sections
corresponding to each municipal master plan element
that a municipality may choose to adopt (M.L.U.L.
c.40:55D-28). Each section of the document provides
the following:
· Why we should care about the topic as a
sustainability issue
· The key concepts for updating the plan element
with sustainability language
· Sample implementation strategies to consider in
each plan element
· Additional resources where a community may go
to find out more information on the topic
Through continuous education, the concept of and work
toward, a more sustainable future will become an
inherent objective in the community. A municipality
creating a sustainability program should provide
encouragement, support, and education about short- and
long-term actions to reduce the individual’s and the
community’s environmental footprint.
Ideally, the sustainability planning process will take
both a top-down and a bottom-up approach. It is
necessary for local government officials to enact
policies that encourage all areas of local government to
commit to bettering their community. In turn, the
grassroots efforts are supported by the decision-makers
and new ideas for creating a sustainable community are
discussed and agreed upon.

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USING THIS DOCUMENT

The purpose of this guidance document is to provide
municipal officials, their planning consultants, and
residents of the community with informative, clear, and
user-friendly language with which to update the
comprehensive municipal master plan to support
sustainability goals. The NJ Chapter of the American
Planning Association (APA-NJ), along with supporting
academic, not-for-profit and professional consulting
outfits, provides real-life examples that help the
professional planner and the lay-person determine the
best approach to crafting sustainability language
appropriate to their community.

Step 1: Defining Sustainability in Your Community
A municipality should first define the term “sustainability” as is applies in your town and explain:
1) The importance of applying sustainability to land-use decisions, community development and redevelopment
decisions, and natural resource protection;
2) The importance of the Master Plan in defining and achieving a desired future for the community;
3) The general purpose and focus of the Plan, and
4) The need for changes in ordinances and practices that the municipality will need adopt to become more sustainable.
One example of a definition for Sustainability comes from the American Planning Association: “Sustainability is the
capability to equitably meet the vital human needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations
to meet their own needs by preserving and protecting the area’s ecosystems and natural resources.” 3
This definition mirrors the widely accepted definition of Sustainable Development coined by the Brundtland
Commission, “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the
ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”4
The STAR Community Index, a national framework for assessing and rating sustainable communities, finds, “the path to
sustainability is different for every community – but the common elements are a healthy environment, a strong economy
and the well-being of the people living in the community.” This definition abides by the Triple Bottom Line concept and
corresponds with goals of the New Jersey Draft State Strategic Plan.5

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Step 2: Creating a Shared Vision
A Sustainability Plan should include a vision that incorporates
sustainability concepts and delineates their importance to
achieving community development and redevelopment priorities
and practices, land-use decision-making and natural resource
protection, in order to help achieve a thriving future in every
aspect of a community.
A vision is a broad statement of the desired outcome for a
community. It should be specific enough to describe what life
might be like if the vision were implemented and to guide goalsetting activities, but broad enough to encompass many goals
and implementation strategies. It often encompasses organizing
themes like sustainable development, healthy communities,
green building design and quality of life.
At the outset of this process, a common definition of
sustainability must be determined by the community. It will
mean different things to different communities. Some will
already have a good start on the process and will be looking to
enhance practices already in place. Others will be discussing
how to start the process so that the community as a whole is on
board and moving forward, together. This guidance document
seeks to provide varied communities (Urban, Suburban, or
Rural) with direction toward reaching consensus on a collective
vision, developing a shared understanding of the vocabulary of
sustainability, and encouraging all members of the community to
develop a personal rationale for sustainability. When all factions
of the community feel that they are contributing to the shift
toward a more sustainable future there will likely be more
support for new ideas and innovations, increasing support for
meeting the needs of their community without compromising the
needs of future generations.

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Step 3: Benchmarking
While all paths to sustainability are unique, a community may wish to follow a benchmarking or rating system used by
other communities, and possibly tailor that system to their own community. Rating systems exist from various nonprofit
organizations, professional affiliations, and government agencies. New Jersey’s Sustainable Jersey program provides
links to existing municipal sustainability plan and benchmarking resources. Below is a sample of these resources.
The Green Globes Rating System
A building and environmental design and management tool. It delivers an online
assessment protocol, rating system, and guidance for green building design, operation and
management. It is interactive and provides market recognition of a building’s environmental attributes through thirdparty verification. Assessment tools are available for New Buildings / Significant Renovations; Management and
Operation of Existing Buildings; Building Emergency Management; Building Intelligence; and Fit-Up for Commercial
Interiors.
LEED-ND or LEED for Neighborhood Development
A rating system for whole neighborhoods, portions of neighborhoods or multiple neighborhoods that
integrates the principles of smart growth, urbanism and green building into the first national system for
neighborhood design. The LEED-ND rating system supports the theories that “thoughtful neighborhood
planning can limit the need for automobiles and their greenhouse gas emissions. Mixed-use
development and pedestrian-friendly streets encourage walking, bicycling and public transportation.
Green buildings and infrastructure also lessen negative consequences for water resources, air quality and natural
resource consumption.
The character of a neighborhood, including its streets, homes, workplaces, shops and public spaces, affects quality of
life. Green developments respect historic resources and the existing community fabric. They preserve open space and
encourage access to parks. Combine the substantial environmental and social benefits, and the case for green
neighborhoods makes itself.”6
Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methods (BREEAM)
Sets the standard for best practice in sustainable building design, construction and operation
and has become one of the most comprehensive and widely recognized measures of a
building’s environmental performance. It encourages designers, clients and others to think about low carbon and low
impact design, minimizing the energy demands created by a building before considering energy efficiency and low
carbon technologies. BREEAM is used to assess buildings in many countries around the world and is housed under the
The STAR Community Rating System (Sustainability Tools for Assessing & Rating Communities)
The nation’s first voluntary, self-reporting framework for evaluating, quantifying, and improving the livability and
sustainability of U.S. communities. STAR uniquely combines:
A framework for sustainability encompassing the social, economic and environmental dimensions of community;
A rating system that drives continuous improvement and fosters competition; and
An online system that gathers, organizes, analyzes, and presents information required to meet sustainability goals.
http://www.starcommunities.org/rating-system

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2001

Land Use

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Why a Sustainable Land Use
Plan Matters
Land is the most fundamental resource that
municipalities manage. As noted in the Sustainable
Jersey Program,
“Where and how development takes place is one
of the single largest determinants of long-term
quality of life and sustainability in New Jersey
and globally. Development decisions determine
choices of how and where people live and move
about, and have a major impact on the
environmental, economic, and social conditions
in the state.”8
A number of recent analyses examining land use,
increases in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) and
population growth, have demonstrated that national
development patterns have primarily been sprawling.
The increases in developed acres of open lands
(farmland, forests and wetlands) and VMT have both
outpaced population growth, and sprawl has a
number of unwanted and costly consequences:

Increased road congestion and commuting times,
Limited mobility for those without cars,
Greater expenditures on fuel and automobile
maintenance,

– Sustainable Cities Institute

Key Concepts
Given the significant environmental, economic and
social consequences of land use development
decisions, any community striving to become more
sustainable must evaluate and understand the
implications of its growth, redevelopment, and land
management policies. Concepts that are essential for a
sustainable land use plan include:
Create or Enhance a Vibrant Mix of Land Uses,
Strengthen and direct development towards
existing neighborhoods, communities and
infrastructure,
Create Walkable Neighborhoods,
Protect and Restore the Environs,
Integrate Land Use and Transportation,
Require and/or Encourage Green Design,

Urban disinvestment,

Foster Regional Cooperation,

Lost farmland and wildlife habitat,
Impaired ecosystems,
Increased water and air pollution, including
greenhouse gases (78 percent of which is
attributed to private automobiles), and
Detrimental health impacts due to more
sedentary lifestyles from lack of active
recreational opportunities.

Respect Community Character, Design and
Cultural and Historic Features,
Make Development Decisions Predictable, Fair,
and Cost-Effective, and
Site Municipal Facilities Consistent with
Sustainable Land Use Principles.

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LAND USE

Greater capital and operating costs for
infrastructure such as roads, wastewater
treatment, and transmission lines,

Land use policy necessarily touches on every aspect of
local government concern. Sustainable land use planning involves decisions on crosscutting and multilayered issues that affect air quality, water quality,
access to transportation options, economic vitality,
and quality of life. It is critical to promote the creation
and development of communities containing an array
of types and uses of buildings and spaces to meet the
diverse needs of residents’ daily lives.

Smart Growth – A Resilient Community Starts with
Sustainable Land Use
New Jersey is predicted to reach full build-out faster
than any other state. If our vision is to sustain the
state’s growth and prosperity, local officials must
make land use decisions that preserve future
opportunities a high priority. New development
should embody efficiency and conservation to the
maximum extent possible. Growth must be based on
the principles of redevelopment, infill development
and live-work or complete communities
development.
The US Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEEDND program encourages many smart growth
principles9:
• Place residences and jobs proximate to each other
to limit automobile trips and associated greenhouse
gas emissions;
• Incorporate mixed-use development and walkable
streets to encourage walking, bicycling, and public
transportation for daily errands and commuting;
• Consider the character of a neighborhood,
including its streets, homes, workplaces, shops, and
public spaces that significantly affect quality of life;
• Include varying types and price ranges of homes to
enable a wide variety of residents to be part of the
community;
• Respect historical resources and the existing
community fabric;
• Preserve open space and encourage access to parks;
and
• Consider that green buildings, community gardens,
and streets and public spaces that encourage physical
activity are beneficial for public health.
The New Robbinsville Town Center, Mercer County, NJ

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Implementation Strategies
In order to avoid sprawl and provide quality in housing
options and community character, municipalities of all
kinds (Rural, Suburban, or Urban) should strive to
incorporate the following strategies into their
Sustainable Land Use Plans.

village green or town center; and

Create or Enhance a Vibrant Mix of Land Uses (see
Economic Development Plan)

○ Reconsider and redesign residential neighborhood
circulation patterns taking into account walking and
bicycling in addition to considering the reduction of
street widths, traffic calming measures, and
retrofitting cul-de-sacs to improve connectivity and
local traffic flows.

Residential, retail, office, active and passive
recreation, farms or community gardens, etc.

Strengthen and direct development towards existing
neighborhoods, communities and infrastructure

Provide housing options for all members of the
community

Take advantage of existing community assets (e.g.,
transit, parks, schools);

Retrofit existing design and planning in the
following ways:

Give priority to infill and redevelopment for both
private and public purposes; and

○ Establish a Sense of Place – Encourage infill,
redevelopment, adaptive re-use, vertical building
additions and reduction of surface parking lots;

Evaluate infrastructure needs and resource carrying
capacities, in particular wastewater and water
supply, to use or repurpose existing infrastructure so
as not to build new infrastructure when or where it
is not needed.

○ Improve Connectivity through access management,
the reintroduction of grids and removal of cul-de-sacs,
the introduction of new service roads as alternatives
to high-speed roadways, and the introduction of
pedestrian and bicycle-friendly connections;
○ Renew emphasis on main streets as an alternative to
strip and more expansive shopping malls;
○ Re-introduce the village green to replace seas of
parking, strip and shopping malls and reinforce the
notion of the town center;
○ Create riparian corridors and greenways while
simultaneously introducing passive recreational trails
and bikeways;
○ Introduce smaller lot sizes to use less developed
space, including townhouses and other multi-family
housing developments within walking distance of the

Create Walkable Neighborhoods
Encourage compact development to create closeknit neighborhoods, designed for personal
interaction and encourages walking and bike riding;
Provide a variety of open spaces close to work,
schools and home to facilitate social networking,
civic engagement, physical activity, and time spent
outdoors;
Redesign (or retrofit) sprawling areas to capture
concepts of land use mix and walkability;
Plan in increments of “complete” neighborhoods;
Promote community interaction by integrating
schools into the neighborhood and encourage
walking and bicycling to school; and
Avoid construction of gated residential areas.
Protect and Restore the Environs (see Conservation
Plan)

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LAND USE

○ Encourage Mixed-use – Encourage a balance of
jobs, housing, shopping, schools, recreation, public
spaces, and institutions in compact forms at an
appropriate scale;

Preserve open space, farmland, scenic views, trees, natural resource lands, and critical environmental areas;
Integrate land use and water quality planning to consider watershed systems in land use planning;
Conserve and enhance wildlife habitat, imperiled species and ecological communities;
Manage the location and design of land uses and structures that involve the use, storage, treatment or disposal of
toxic and hazardous materials to prevent contamination of ground and surface water.
Integrate Land Use and Transportation (see Circulation Plan)
Provide mutually supportive transportation system improvements and land use planning practices to reduce automobile use;
Provide a variety of multi-modal transportation choices for all users, including those with limited mobility;
Encourage development in multi-modal transportation areas or live-work opportunities (eg. Transit-Oriented Development); and
Design circulation systems to promote connectivity.
Require and/or Encourage Green Design
Reduce Urban Heat Island effects through community planning and design by avoiding dark-colored buildings and
roofs, paved surfaces, and reduced tree cover. This complements smart growth strategies by reducing energy costs
and enhancing green space;
Improve stormwater management systems by using natural, low-impact design elements and green infrastructure
such as rain gardens, roof gardens, and constructed wetlands; and
Reuse or repurpose existing infrastructure wherever possible.
Foster Regional Cooperation and Coordination
Promote regional land use tools to avoid competition for a bigger tax base, avoidance of development, connection of
open spaces, protection of environmental resources and smart growth transportation systems;
Consider the impacts of land use decisions on various systems across municipal boundaries (e.g., watershed level
planning for stormwater management);
Look for opportunities at all levels of government to coordinate and cooperate to achieve common goals by meeting
and discussing ideas; and
Promote cost sharing and cost saving ideas through regional cooperation.
Make Development Decisions Predictable, Fair, and Cost-Effective
Encourage meaningful community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions;
Eliminate disproportionate environmental burdens and pollution experienced by historically disadvantaged communities; and
Educate urban communities and local leaders about potential pollution from development decisions.

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Revise land use regulations
Amend current ordinances, codes and standards to discourage sprawl and to encourage compact development (e.g.,
eliminate zoning practices that require minimum lot sizes, or that prohibit multi-family or attached housing, as
determined by the capacity analysis); consider adoption of form-based codes. Specific actions include:
Revise codes and ordinances to allow for the “by right” building of mixed-use and transit-oriented developments,
with a complete streets and pedestrian-friendly component;
Match up water supply and wastewater management with zoning and land-use mapping;
Encourage development, redevelopment and economic growth in locations with existing or anticipated public
services or facilities; and discourage development where it may impair or destroy natural resources, wildlife habitats,
or environmental qualities; and
Promote inter-municipal regional planning among communities with shared services and infrastructure.
Identify Eligible Lands
Identify land that is best suited for green development projects by applying screening criteria (e.g., LEED-ND Smart
Location and Linkage prerequisites) to all parcels. Such criteria should filter land based upon the following criteria:
smart location characteristics, such as proximity to transit, public water and wastewater infrastructure, community
services, and previously developed land; proximity to imperiled species, wetlands, and water bodies; soil
characteristics; and proximity to floodplains.
Such an analysis identifies promising areas for growth and gives guidance to developers that will encourage them to
strongly consider appropriate locations when pursuing new projects.

Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) is a municipal planning and preservation tool offering communities a way to
protect agricultural, historic or environmental resources while accommodating the needs for growth. TDR is a realty
transfer mechanism permitting owners of “sending area” properties to separate the development rights of their
property from the property itself and sell them for use on other land. Developers who purchase these “development
credits” may then develop “receiving areas” deemed appropriate for growth at densities higher than otherwise
permitted. Once the development rights of a property are sold the land will be permanently restricted from further
development.

LAND USE

Enact a Transfer of Development Rights Program to Create Centers and Protect Environs

Create Incentives to Direct Development to Existing Developed Areas
Development Incentives: Provide density bonuses, increased allowable heights, and accelerated review and
permitting for: redeveloped sites, brownfield and greyfield and other infill sites; providing additional amenities.
Financial Incentives: Creating a financial incentive for “sustainable” development is one of the best ways for a
town to achieve its goals.
Establish tax increment financing (TIF) districts to encourage redevelopment.
Reduce impact fees for infill development based on less demand for new infrastructure, if capacity analysis
agrees. Often, fee reductions and waivers are paired with a structural incentive such as expedited permitting to
give the developer increased benefit for choosing to build green.
Grants for green neighborhood developers and green builders are being established by local governments to
entice construction and renovation project teams to go green in markets that may otherwise be resistant. These


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Marketing Assistance: Developers and owners of green buildings, and neighborhoods, can gain from the increased
marketability of third-party certified, high-performance green real estate. In recognition of the unique marketability
of green neighborhoods, some municipalities and counties are offering free marketing assistance, including signage,
awards, and recognition on city websites, press releases and other means to help green builders rent and sell their
properties more effectively.
Educate Stakeholders
General Staff Education: Beyond designating individuals with extensive green expertise, providing a modest level
of training to all staff involved in the review and approvals process is a simple, low-cost way to signal your jurisdiction’s commitment to green to developers and the general public, and ensure that all staff members recognize key
green development strategies in new project applications.
Educate local officials: Officials who are appointed by elected officials may have a high turnover rate because of
election changes. Regular educational programs for officials, such as planning and zoning board members improve
the chances of green development being implemented.

Tools for Sustainable Land Use Planning
The following tools are recommended to help promote sustainable land use:
Official Map of streets, drainage, flood control basins and public areas.
Natural Resource Inventory and Maps
Community Facilities Map
Historic Resources Inventory
Identification of Stable versus distressed areas –
opportunities for revitalization through redevelopment or
rehabilitation
Existing non-preserved and preserved farmland
Transportation network
Water and Wastewater capacity
Identifying and Remediating Contaminated Sites

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Recommendations for Further Study
The following analyses are recommended to foster sustainable land use planning and development:
Compile Data
Land development projects, e.g., LEED for Neighborhood Development projects, are concerned with accessing high
quality information about project site and vicinity characteristics. Common information needed to complete a green
development project includes items like street centerline files, water and wastewater infrastructure maps, parcel
development histories, historic building and cultural landscape designations, and bicycle paths. Your jurisdiction can
greatly assist the project in gathering this data by centralizing as much as possible or by training staff with oversight of
this information on what to expect from project teams that need this information for a certification submittal.
Additionally, if your jurisdiction does not have robust, updated geographic data (for use in Geographic Information
Systems), building this database of information will be invaluable to future project teams.
Build–out (or Trends) Analysis of Growth and Development
The trends analysis demonstrates what the community will look like in the future with current zoning in place. The
purpose of the endeavor is to illustrate to the municipality the development potential of its community and any land
constraints imposed by existing development, zoning ordinances, and regulated or preserved natural and cultural
resources. A description of the future based on current policies provides a valuable baseline against which to compare
alternative growth scenarios that can reflect community stakeholder priorities and vision options.
Capacity Analysis

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LAND USE

A Capacity Analysis evaluates the capacity of environmental and infrastructure systems to sustain future inhabitants.
Environmental capacity-based planning recognizes both the environmental limits and opportunities for growth.
Environmental limits may include drinking water and available sewer service capacity. Opportunities may include the
redevelopment of brownfield sites or the preservation of open space and natural resources, including rare plant and
animal species and ecological communities. One action would be to determine if current zoning and land use plans
can sustain current and projected populations and development based on current and future water supply and
treatment. If inconsistencies are found, adjust zoning and land use plans to be consistent with current and future water
supply and treatment.

Additional Resources
Calthorpe, Peter. 1993. The Next American Metropolis; Ecology, Community and the American Dream, Princeton
University Press.
Duany, Andres and Jeff Speck with Mike Lydon. 2010. The Smart Growth Manual, McGraw Hill, NY.
LEED 2009 for Neighborhood Development Rating System, created by the Congress for New Urbanism, Natural
Resources Defense Council, and the US Green Building Council. http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?
CMSPageID=148
“A Local Government Guide to LEED for Neighborhood Development” (US Green Building Council, 2010; http://
www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=6131)
Lincoln Institute of Land Policy. 2009. Urban Planning Tools for Climate Change Mitigation, http://
www.lincolninst.edu/pubs/1573_Urban-Planning-Tools

Municipal Master Plans:
Sustainable West Windsor Plan, West Windsor Twp., NJ (http://www.westwindsornj.org/EC-sustainability.html)
Strategic Plan for a Sustainable Hillsborough, First Draft, February 6, 2008, Hillsborough Twp., NJ (http://
sustainablehillsborough.com/Plan/CommunityGoals/GoalDetails/tabid/64/Default.aspx?goal=19)

State Resources
NJDCA, Office of Smart Growth, Municipal Plan Endorsement Guidelines, Adopted October 17, 2007 Revised February
2010 http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/osg/plan/pe.html
NJDEP, Office of Planning and Sustainable Communities http://www.nj.gov/dep/opsc/envcbp.html
NJ Future Smart Growth Scorecard/Municipal Review http://www.njfuture.org/Media/Docs/municipal_card.pdf
New Jersey Office of Smart Growth http://www.nj.gov/dca/osg/
Planning for the Environs of a Center – A Case Study of Woolwich Twp, Gloucester Co., Office of State Planning
Memo, Vol III, No. 4, May/ June/July 1997 http://www.state.nj.us/dca/divisions/osg/docs/environsworkbook060196.pdf

Non Profit Organizations
Association of New Jersey Environmental Commissions, Acting Locally, Municipal Tools for Environmental Protection
-- Site Plan Review: Procedures for Environmental Analysis; Planning: Build-Out and Capacity Analysis http://
www.anjec.org/pdfs/SG_Planning.pdf
Smart Communities Network, Land Use Codes/Ordinances, http://www.smartcommunities.ncat.org/landuse/
lucodtoc.shtml
Smart Growth Online. The Smart Growth Network provides a clearinghouse of smart growth-related news, resources,
tools, and other information. www.smartgrowth.org
Sustainable Jersey Program. Sustainable Land Use Pledge. http://sustainablejersey.com/actionlist.php

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US Environmental Protection Agency
USEPA Smart Growth Program. http://www.epa.gov/dced/
USEPA. 2010. Draft, Smart Growth – A Guide to Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs;
Local Government
Climate and Energy Strategy Guides. http://www.epa.gov/slclimat/documents/pdf/smart_growth_guide.pdf
USEPA. Nov 2009. Essential Smart Growth Fixes for Urban and Suburban Zoning Codes. EPA 231-K-09-003. http://
www.epa.gov/dced/
essential_fixes.htm
USEPA. August 2009. Managing Wet Weather with Green Infrastructure, Municipal Handbook Water Quality Scorecard, EPA- 833-B-09-004 http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/home.cfm?program_id=298
USEPA Water Quality Scorecard (http://www.epa.gov/dced/water_scorecard.htm)

LAND USE

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Housing
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Why a Sustainable Housing Plan Matters
Providing quality homes for economically diverse
families in NJ continues to be a challenge for many
communities. Success stories have approached the issue
from many angles, taking into consideration the location
of housing in relation to access to transportation, jobs,
shopping, schools, and other services. The first step in
providing homes that meet the needs of all economic
segments of the local and regional population is to
remove the obstacles that hinder this development. A
variety of housing options, from single family homes,
duplexes, to apartments, including housing affordable to
people with low, moderate and middle incomes, and those
with special needs, is vital to allow residents to live and
work in the same municipality.

Across the nation housing needs are changing because
demographics are changing, with smaller families and
single households seeking smaller, less expensive
housing near jobs and transportation. According to the NJ
Housing Opportunities Task Force Report (March 2010),
there are three major housing demand sectors in the

current decade: foreign-born minorities, now primarily
relying on the existing stock of urban housing; aging
‘Baby Boomers’ born between 1946 and 1964 who will
be seeking more affordable housing in retirement
communities and downsized homes and apartments; and
the young adult market, the ‘Baby Boomer Echo’
generation, those born between 1977 and 1995.
Housing cost factored as a percentage of income is used as
a measure of affordability. Traditionally, a home is
considered affordable when its costs consume no more
than 30% of household income. By taking into account
both the cost of housing (H) as well as the cost of
transportation (T) associated with the location of the
home, H+T provides a more complete understanding of
affordability. The Center for Neighborhood Technology
created an H+T Index, defining an affordable range for
H+T as the combined costs consuming no more than
45% of income.

HOUSING

Collaboration among a design team beginning in the
planning stages of a project ensures that all aspects of
community development, including green housing design,
are incorporated into the housing plan. Green building
has been shown to improve the health and well-being of
occupants. There is documentation linking health to
indoor environmental quality. It has been shown that
green buildings lower utility bills over time, resulting in a
return on investment. At the project level, aspects such
as: site selection; connecting to and building community;
water quality; landscaping; building orientation and
massing; passive heating and cooling; building envelope;
weatherization; building interior and floor plans; building
systems; lighting; energy-efficient appliances; renewable
energy production; water conservation; resource efficient
materials; construction waste reduction; and indoor
environmental quality should become a part of an
iterative design process beginning in the planning stage of
project development.

A house is a home when it shelters
the body and comforts the soul.
- Phillip Moffitt

Growth in Jersey City, Hudson County,
NJ has incorporated a variety of housing
types with transportation options

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Key Concepts


Think regionally, act locally;
Live where you work;
Provide housing types for a variety of
income and age groups;
Promote compact and clustered residential
development and mixed-use development;

Municipalities can increase housing choices not only by
modifying their land use patterns on newly-developed
land, but preferably by increasing housing supply in
existing neighborhoods and on land served by existing
infrastructure. Implementation strategies to encourage
sustainable affordable housing should include:

Reuse existing buildings and sites for
redevelopment;

Revising zoning codes as necessary to permit a
variety of housing types for a variety of
demographics;

Plan housing near places of employment,
transportation, recreation and community
facilities;

Allowing for accessory dwelling units, elder housing,
in addition to main dwelling units on residential lots
without affecting density;

Preserve existing housing stock;

Providing a density bonus to encourage affordable
rental units;

Build green and environmentally sustainable
homes with universal design in all housing;
and
Protect historic, cultural
community features.

and

scenic

Implementing a program to identify and rehabilitate
substandard and vacant and abandoned buildings for
both residential and non-residential uses;
Adopting a Property Maintenance Code that stipulates
enforcement of maintenance with respect to structure
or property such that conditions, including, without
limitation, structural deterioration, lack of
maintenance of the exterior of premises, infestations
of vermin do not become injurious to the public
health, safety and welfare;
Considering municipally owned property, tax sales
and foreclosures for opportunities to provide
affordable housing;
Encouraging new development to consider green
building practices (e.g., solar-oriented, energy and
water-efficient design of buildings, lower impact site
design), and universal design of housing units; and

Thanks to digital technology, climate
change concerns, and corporate layoffs,
demand is rising for homes that
accommodate today's entrepreneurs.

Include affordable housing in any new residential
construction project to the maximum extent feasible.

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Tools for Sustainable Housing Planning
To help facilitate implementation, the municipality
should also prepare the following inventories and
maps:

Recommendations for
Further Study
To further help facilitate implementation, the
municipality should also conduct the following
studies:

Land use and Zoning Maps;

Community health characteristics;

Existing and proposed restricted low- and
moderate income housing, low- to moderateincome CDBG areas, and existing substandard
housing;

Public safety and crime statistics;

Natural Resources Inventory;

Municipal housing stock and demographics:

Transportation network map;
Open space, parks, recreation, cultural, historic
and scenic resources maps;
Existing and preserved farmland map;
Community facilities map;
An Official Map (per NJ Municipal Land Use
Law, NJSA 40:55D-32);
Inventory of Brownfields / Grayfields; and

Infrastructure capacity: water and sewer;

Projection of municipal housing stock,
including probable future construction of
low, moderate and middle income housing
and the municipality’s capacity to
accommodate it;
Existing and proposed housing locations,
any environmental impacts to residents, and
especially to socially vulnerable populations
(low-income, senior), and mitigating
strategies, including input from those
stakeholders;
Existing and probable future jobs-to-housing
ratio;
Income to housing costs;
Lands that are most appropriate for
construction of low- and moderate-income
housing and of the existing structures most
appropriate for conversion to, or
rehabilitation for, low- and moderate-income
housing; and
Municipality’s regional fair share obligation of
low- and moderate-income housing and an
assessment of its capacity to accommodate that
obligation.

Mapping resources, transportation, open space,
environmental constraints, etc., is key to see how
a communities pieces fit together and where the
opportunities to improve it are.

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HOUSING

Inventory of stable versus distressed areas –
opportunities for revitalization through
rehabilitation or redevelopment.

Education, research and other institutions;

Strategic Plan for a Sustainable Hillsborough, First Draft, February 6, 2008, Hillsborough Twp., NJ
(http://www. sustainablehillsborough.com/) Vision for the Future
Urban Land Institute: Research and Publications http://www.uli.org/
American Planning Association: Planning Advisory Service [#516] – ‘Jobs-Housing Balance’ http://
openlibrary.org/b/OL8702082M
Smart Communities Network: Creating
www.smartcommunities.ncat.org/welcome.shtml

Energy

Smart

Communities

http://

New Jersey Green Homes Office http://www.state.nj.us/dca/hmfa/gho/about/
Center for Neighborhood Technology (CNT) http://www.cnt.org
NJDEP’s I-MapNJ http://www.nj.gov/dep/gis/depsplash.htm
NJ Department of Environmental Protection Data Miner http://www.nj.gov/dep/enforcement/reportslist.html
Environmental Defense Fund’s “Scorecard” http://www.scorecard.org/
NJ Digital Legal Library http://njlegallib.rutgers.edu/mtlaurel/aboutmtlaurel.php
EPA Environmental Justice Geographic
environmentaljustice/assessment.html

Assessment

Tool

http://www.epa.gov/compliance/

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Circulation

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Why a Sustainable Circulation Plan Matters
Transportation and circulation are critical to the quality of
life in our communities, serving many purposes, including
providing local and regional mobility, offering access to
homes, shopping and businesses, and supporting economic
growth. The influence of street systems on urban form
predates the automobile era. Road and street networks help
knit places together, while others form barriers. Street
systems also influence how a community functions. They
shape local land use patterns, the form of the various
districts, the level of access that can be provided to
destinations, and the design and function of individual
places.
State and local roads suffer congestion due to plans and
decisions made by many government agencies. State and
local governments will never be able to solve congestion by
building more, wider and faster roads. Under this model,
there will never be sufficient financial resources to supply
the demand for capacity. Sprawling land uses will continue
to create congestion faster than roadway capacity can be
increased. A sustainable Circulation Plan addresses capacity
through integrated land use and transportation planning,
steering the focus of transportation planning toward multimodal solutions.
A mix of land uses with homes, offices, public buildings,
and shopping all located in close proximity means that there
are fewer and shorter automobile trips. It also means that
residents can walk, bike or use public transit. Fewer cars
and trips mean less traffic and congestion in the community
as well as reduced harmful carbon dioxide emissions being
released into the atmosphere. Walking and biking become
part of a healthier routine.

Sustainable communities allow people to live
closer to jobs and save money on personal
transportation… Neighborhoods that make it
easy to walk or bike to work, school, stores,
parks, and other destinations help people stay
healthy by incorporating regular exercise into
their daily routines
– Partnership for Sustainable Communities

Key Concepts
Roadways have many purposes, including providing
local and regional mobility, offering access to homes
and businesses, and supporting economic growth, but
are not the only means of necessary transportation. A
sustainable Circulation Plan element provides goals
for users of all modes of mobility throughout a
community; urban, suburban or rural. Goals can be
geared toward enhancing the identity of a place,
physical movement of getting people from one place
to the next and efficiently, reducing the number of
motor vehicles on roadways, protecting rural
roadways for scenic value, or providing access to a
variety of forms of transportation and mobility.
Another means of achieving these qualities is through
the implementation of a “Complete Streets” program
on one or more streets within a community.
According to Sustainable Jersey, Complete Streets
have numerous environmental, safety, and health
benefits. Designing roadways that are inclusive of all
appropriate forms of transportation can reduce serious
injuries and fatalities by lowering the number of
speeding drivers and providing access and
accommodation for all potential travelers. Safer
roadways encourage residents to walk and bike more
often, which can greatly improve their health.
Increased walking, biking and transit use also cuts
carbon dioxide emissions and reduces reliance on
fossil fuels. According to the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), if one average driver leaves
the car at home just two days a week, greenhouse gas
emissions will be reduced by 1600 pounds per year.

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In any given community, approximately 30 percent of the
residents cannot or have chosen not to drive. They may be
too young; they may have decided to “give up the keys” due
to poor health or advancing age; they may be physically
handicapped; or they may have simply made a lifestyle or
economic choice not to own or operate a car. These citizens
need places to walk, bicycle, and use public transportation.
They need Complete Streets.
To summarize, a Complete Streets program can:
Gradually create a complete network of transportation
facilities.
Provide an equitable transportation system that serves all
residents.
Shift transportation investments
functioning streets are created.

so

safer,

better

Save money in the long run (because doing it right the
first time costs less than retrofitting a project later).
Encourage healthy habits by making it easier to walk
and bicycle.

CIRCULATION

Provide more transportation options and reduce traffic
congestion, thus increasing the capacity of the overall
transportation network.
Improve air quality by cutting down on harmful carbon
dioxide and other vehicle emissions.2
Include parking solutions with both on- and off street
parking for motor vehicles and bicycles in order to
minimize hazards for pedestrians and bicyclists.
NJ has one of the most extensive statewide public
transportation systems in the country. Designing streets,
parking, and transit stops to consider form before function is
important to place-making and should be a focus of any
transportation or circulation plan. A sustainable Circulation
Plan should integrate land use and transportation through
context-sensitive design, noting that:
In some of the more rural portions of the state, public
transportation might consist of buses and park-and-ride
facilities;

Planning for all modes of transportation
is key. As we do, it is important to think
people first as people drive cars, access
parking lots, cross streets, and so on...

Suburban communities with commuter rail lines and bus
routes can provide enhanced pedestrian and bicycle
connections to transportation facilities;


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Urban areas of the state require consistency and continuity among the transfer stations to provide more effective
commuter options; and
Providing access to public transportation and to nearby housing, employment, and services should remain a priority
for all communities as a means of creating community around transportation other than the single-occupancy
vehicle.
Reducing the number of single-occupancy vehicles on roadways is an important objective of connected climate, smart
growth and public health goals, because:
Fewer vehicles on roads provide for cleaner air and water, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and lower heat island
impacts in urban areas;
Reducing the number of motor vehicle can increase safety, by decreasing the potential for motor vehicle accidents
and accidents with pedestrians and bicycles. It is important for communities to encourage pedestrians and bicycle
travel and provide awareness campaigns to motor vehicle drivers;
Improving transportation systems for all users before constructing new roadways will encourage the single–
occupancy vehicle driver to reconsider using the public transit system;
Where roadways are in disrepair and increasing traffic congestion is a problem, improving these existing roadways
and intersections before constructing new ones will make roadway travel more effective;
Strategies such as demand based ride sharing and programmatic changes to services offered (e.g., consolidating
system operations) might be a solution to reduce single-occupancy vehicular travel.
Roadways in NJ also serve as scenic routes for enjoyment, in addition to travel. For instance, they can be used for:
Preserving the character of rural areas includes preserving and properly maintaining roads that are still rural, narrow
and dirt roads.
Signage along routes that are important to the state’s history should be encouraged for cultural and historic
preservation, as well as for general travel needs.
The value of country roads is in the unique visual experience they offer.

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The MLUL gives little guidance on
preparing the master plan circulation element. In many
master plans, the circulation element may be a roadway
inventory and some engineering designs. Frequently,
there is little recognition of the different functions of
roadways or of the land uses that adjoin them.
The intent of the master plan is to provide a land use
strategy that can be served easily by infrastructure. The
most effective local transportation plans look beyond
the street system and recognize the many linkages
between transportation and community life in its varied
forms. This means considering not only travel needs,
but the specific ways in which transportation tends to
structure activities and spaces throughout a municipality
and the region. It means considering how current
development decisions will affect community mobility
and people’s daily experiences for decades into the
future.

Establish a Parking Demand Management Plan that
provides a realistic scale and routinely includes
bicycle parking, parking areas that are integrated
with surrounding land uses, shared parking and
driveways for efficiency, and access to loading
areas for truck delivery.
Transit stops for buses, taxis, ferries, light rail and
trains should be easily accessible, recognizable
from a distance, comfortable and attractive, and
should support activities and services within close
proximity to the transit stop. For instance, housing
and employment centers should be located within
walking distance of transit stops.
Promote community form through a mix of uses
and housing diversity, neighborhood schools
connected with housing along safe
routes, pedestrian access to
conveniences within a neighborhood,
and street characteristics that are
scaled to the types and placement of
neighborhood buildings.
Provide visibility to parks and
plaza from adjacent streets. Use design
features to highlight and connect these
areas; offer visitors places to walk and
sit.

Promote mobility and
community for more than
transportation alone. This should
include Circulation, Shopping
Streets, Parking, Transit Stops,
Neighborhoods, Public Places,
and the Natural Environment.
Circulation strategies should
include multiuse streets, connectivity among all
modes of transportation, safety for pedestrians,
cyclists, and motorists, signage that is legible and
easily interpreted, and design sensitivity among
roads and bridges with the surrounding
environment.
Shopping streets should create an identity through
the practice of place-making, creating interest at
the ends of shopping streets with destination

While access to the natural
environment is important in cities and
suburbs, so too are boundaries such as
greenbelts and wildlife corridors that
protect fragile wildlife habitats.
Develop transportation standards that incorporate a
“green streets” approach to roadway design.
Guidelines for rural road modifications should
provide user safety, long-range reduction of
maintenance costs,
and a roadway that is
attractively integrated with the roadside and
surrounding landscape.

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CIRCULATION

Create a transportation
committee to address needs for
existing and future public
transportation, bicycle and
pedestrian users.

points, multi-user parking preferably to the rear of
structures, and safe connections between parking,
transit, neighborhoods, and shopping itself.

Tools for Sustainable Circulation Planning
To help facilitate implementation, the municipality should also prepare the following inventories and maps:
Listing of roads and their functions
Traffic Characteristics
Travel requirements – identify safe and reasonable speeds at which traffic should travel along various roads; required
maintenance year-round (e.g. mowing, clearing snow, pot-hole fixes, etc.)
Land Uses adjacent to the roadways, potential changes to use and intensity of use, and compatible modifications
Scenic quality of a country road should be documented according to types of vegetation, topography, geology,
surface waters, unique natural areas, wildlife, manmade features and visual qualities.
Safety factors on each roadway, such as number and severity of accidents; the cause of accidents; fixed objects
adjacent to roadways; conflicts with pedestrians, bicycles, or vehicles; and inadequate sight distance.

To help facilitate implementation, the municipality should consider instituting a Complete Streets Policy for the town. In
the State’s Complete Streets Policy, the NJ Department of Transportation recognized these benefits of complete streets:
Complete Streets improve safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, children, older citizens, non-drivers and the mobility
challenged as well as those that cannot afford a car or choose to live car free
Provide connections to bicycling and walking trip generators such as employment, education, residential, recreation,
retail centers and public facilities
Promote healthy lifestyles
Create more livable communities
Reduce traffic congestion and reliance on carbon fuels thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Complete Streets make fiscal sense by incorporating sidewalks, bike lanes, safe crossings and transit amenities into
the initial design of a project, thus sparing the expense of retrofits later
The town may also want to conduct a gap assessment of sidewalks, roadways, and on-road and off-road bike and
walking paths.

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Programs such as Complete Streets and Safe Routes to
School are resources that provide guidance for all
communities. The American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act also provided financial support and
guidance for roadway projects in all states in the US.
New Jersey is fortunate to have a Department of
Transportation that has considered transportation and
sustainability and it is a leader in efforts to integrate
transportation and land use issues, and understands that
the “wider and faster” approach to road construction will
not solve the problem.
The New Jersey and Pennsylvania Departments of
Transportation have developed the Smart Transportation
Guidebook: Planning and Designing Highways and
Streets that Support Sustainable and Livable
Communities that provides guidance on sustainable
transportation and circulation to state and local
governments.

Smart Transportation recommends a new approach to
roadway planning and design, in which transportation
investments are tailored to the specific needs of each
project. The different contexts - financial, community,
land use, transportation, and environmental - determine
the design of the solution. The best transportation
solution arises from a process in which a multidisciplinary team, considering a range of solutions,
works closely with the community. Inclusive of contextsensitive solutions (CSS), Smart Transportation also

The Smart Transportation Guidebook has potential
application for a wide range of users in New Jersey:
Metropolitan Planning Organizations to serve as
guidelines for integrated land use and transportation
studies.
NJDOT – to serve as guidelines for applying the
NJDOT design manuals in a context sensitive
manner.
Municipalities and Counties – to serve as guidelines
for land use and roadway development projects.
Developers – to provide tools to realize “smart
growth” goals for developments.
Residents of New Jersey – to guide community
development so they understand their role in the
transportation project development process.
Smart Transportation Guidebook: Planning and
Designing Highways and Streets that Support
Sustainable and Livable Communities
NJ DOT Mobility and Community Form: A Guide
to Linking Transportation and Land Use in the
Municipal Master Plan http://www.state.njus/
transportation/community/mobility/
Smart Codes: Model Land-Development
Regulations, Marya Morris, General Editor.
American Planning Associations, Planning
Advisory Service Report Number 556. April 2009.

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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

CIRCULATION

According to the Guidebook, Smart Transportation
should manage capacity by better integrating land use
and transportation planning. With this Guidebook, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania are working together to link
land use context to roadway values, and to establish
common design guidelines. The desire to go “through” a
place must be balanced with the desire to go “to” a
place.

encompasses network connectivity, and access and
corridor management.

Fa r m l a n d
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Why a Sustainable Farmland Plan Matters
Historically, the majority of NJ lands were in
agricultural usage. As the State developed into
residential and commercial uses, those agricultural
lands were sold for development. Nearby uses
became incompatible with farming. But, agriculture
in New Jersey accounts for $82 billion of the state’s
economy, ranking 3rd among the top industries in the
state.10 NJ has just over 10,000 farms with 733,450
acres in productive farmland; although more farms
are being preserved every year, increasing acres have
also been lost to development.

Farming looks mighty easy when
your plow is a pencil and you’re a
thousand miles from the corn field.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower

FARMLAND

There is an opportunity in New Jersey for the State to
become self-sustaining with regard to agriculture and
food production. With the rising trend of organic and
local produce in supermarkets, New Jersey farms can
accommodate the niche markets, as well as the mass
markets for produce, wool, dairy products, fruits, and
many other specialty items. Proximity to major
consumption markets, particularly New York and
Philadelphia, make New Jersey uniquely situated to
improve its branding as “The Garden State.”
According to the NJ Department of Agriculture,
farmers in NJ produce over 80 different kinds of fruits
and vegetables for local and world-wide consumption.
Nationally, NJ is one of the top ten producers of
blueberries, cranberries, peaches, tomatoes, bell
peppers, cucumbers, snap beans, spinach, and squash.
Vineyards are also a growing segment of the industry,
enabling the state’s more than 32 vintners to develop
a wide variety of award-winning NJ wines.
NJ farmers can partner with schools and hospitals to
provide local produce, to develop farmers’ markets
for residents, to develop new products to meet market
demand, and to educate consumers about healthier
and more cost effective approaches to food. To make
agriculture viable and sustainable, municipalities
must play a vital role in educating its residents,
promoting innovative methods of farming, and
assisting implementation of Agricultural Management
Practices.10

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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

Key Concepts
Agriculture is a critically important resource in NJ. The State Right to Farm law provides protections for farming from
nuisance suits, unnecessary regulation and certain licensing requirements. The State is committed to maintaining its
agricultural base. The agricultural industry generates billions of dollars in revenue, while saving the cost of services that
would otherwise have to be provided to residences and businesses. Preserving land to continue agricultural endeavors,
having a new generation of farmers willing to work in the agricultural industry, and improving local markets for Jersey
products, contribute to the future of the agricultural industry.

Adopt a Farmland Preservation Plan
Prioritize large, contiguous lands that are already in
agricultural production or that could be used for
farming, without destroying natural resources such as
forests and wetlands.
Dedicate local funds for preserving agricultural land.

Develop a Deer Management strategy
New Jersey farmers suffer millions of dollars of crop
losses annually due to deer browse, because deer are
drawn to cultivated crops in a compact location.
Allowing increased hunting opportunities is important
to control deer population. Preserving productive
farmland, without properly managing it, will not
strengthen the objectives of preservation in the long
term. Although other farm “pests” must be minimized,
the biggest problem to farm crop loss is deer feeding.

Reduction of Pesticides and Improvement in Water
Quality
Organic farming should be considered an educational
priority for local farms.
Reduction in pesticides through Integrated Pest
Management practices will improve water quality, soil
quality, and farm animal health.
Recent studies have shown that weeds resistant to
normal pesticides and herbicides, such as “Round-Up”
have developed; this makes it harder for farmers to
control weeds, control erosion by avoiding continual
plowing and avoid increased pollution in waterways.

Green Energy, Biofuels and Alternative Energy Sources
Consider alternative energy sources, such as solar panels,
wind generation (particularly on higher silos and barns),
and other alternative energy sources.

Protection of Water Supply
Water is a primary component in any type of farming
activity, and must be conserved and properly used in
order to provide continued supply.
The State of New Jersey grants agricultural well water
supply permits for farming activities which have less
regulatory requirements than potable water supplies for
humans.
Use of water conservation techniques and less
impervious cover on farms can provide long-term
benefits for future farm uses.

Developing Innovative Practices and Local Markets
Encourage non-traditional farming activities, such as
wool production by llamas, alpacas, sheep, agri-tourism
for year-round agricultural support, farm visits by school
groups and others who have not had exposure to the food
supply chain.
Publicize Local Food-Source Efforts and connect with
schools, hospitals, social services groups and other
established community organizations. Publicity can occur
through local newspapers, municipal websites, flyers and
signs.
Provide a municipal on-line inventory of community
gardens, urban farms, farm stands and other sources of
fresh food, so residents can easily find the nearest freshfood location.

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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

Support and Encourage Food Cooperatives.
Farmers with similar products should be encouraged
to network and develop cooperatives.
Resources for networking include a municipal
Agricultural Advisory Committee, or the County
Agricultural Development Board.
Establish a cooperative to reduce costs and improve
marketability for small NJ farms.

Encouraging a New Generation of Farmers
Ease zoning restrictions on some uses on farms, but
strive for adherence to those uses which are protected by
Right to Farm rules.
Zoning ordinances to generate income for non-farming
activities which do not detract from other agricultural
activities, can also be considered for very small areas on
farms.

Reduce the need for long-range transport of
food by encouraging local food production
A set of sample spreadsheets were developed by the
Metrics Fellow so that farmers and gardeners
anywhere can collect their data and report on the
following 6 indicators:11
1. $ dollars earned from farmers market sales
2. # pounds of food produced
3. # pounds of food waste collected to create compost
4. # of people trained in job skills
5. # of person-hours spent working at the farm or
garden
6. # of person-hours spent working at the farm or
garden by age

Uses such as cell towers on existing farm buildings,
roadside stands near farms, but not to extend beyond a
small percentage of the activities on the land.

FARMLAND

Provide technical assistance by partnering with
academic, business and non-profit groups to connect
communities and farmers with guides for cost-effective
and sustainable farming.
Increase access to, and promote, local food products.
Provide incentives such as transportation and housing,
for agricultural workers to more readily assist farmers.
Connect landowners to farmers seeking to lease land for
farming.

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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

Tools for Sustainable Farmland
Preservation Planning
To help facilitate implementation, the municipality should
also prepare the following inventories and maps:
$ G D) D P OQ 3U V U DL 3OQ
RSW U D G H H Y W
RQ D
Develop a Deer Management strategy
Reduction of Pesticides and Improvement in Water
Quality
Green Energy, Biofuels and Alternative Energy
Sources

To help facilitate implementation, the municipality should
conduct studies regarding the town’s access to local food
production. This access should be afforded to all, but special
care should be taken to ensure this access to vulnerable
populations, especially low-income and urban households.
Most food is produced hundreds, sometimes thousands of
miles from where it is consumed requiring significant energy
consumption for handling, transportation and storage and
resulting in significant food waste from spoilage during its
journey.

Protection of Water Supply
Developing Innovative Practices and Local Markets
Encouraging a New Generation of Farmers
Reduce the need for long-range transport of food by
encouraging local food production

Agricultural Management Practices for Agriculture set standards for operation of agricultural industries to meet, in order to be
considered a “commercial farm” within the protections of the Right to Farm Act. There are extensive protections for
commercial farms under the NJ Right to Farm Act, such as protection from nuisance suits, local pesticide application
regulations, interference from neighbors, noise ordinances, and others. New Jersey has made a commitment to protect its
farmers, but farmers must also comply with Management Practices promulgated by the SADC. Not all farming operations
have AMPs yet developed. Among those which have been adopted are the following:
Apiary AMP (NJAC 2:76-2A.2)
Applies to Honey Bees. Colonies cannot exceed a maximum of 50 per acre; they must have an adequate water supply
within a ½ mile distance.
Poultry manure AMP (NJAC 2:76-2A.2)
This AMP requires heavy waterproof material for storing temporary manure; concrete bunkers bins are necessary for longterm storage. There are requirements for soil testing, soil fertility, seasonal applications, etc when spreading manure
Food processing by-product land application AMP (NJAC 2:76-2A.4)
This strictly regulates the application of residuals and vegetative matter from food processing when used as a fertilizer.
Nitrogen composition must be tested and soil permeability, drainage, slope, farmland conservation plans, among others,
must be considered.
Commercial vegetable production AMP (NJAC 2:76-2A.5)
Rutgers Cooperative Extension prepared recommendations in 2000, updated in 2009, for production of commercial
vegetable production.


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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

However, application of sewage sludge was exempted from these recommendations. The application of sludge should be
properly managed and can have an impact on sustainably protecting the environment.
Commercial Tree Fruit Production AMP (NJAC 2:76- 2A.6)
The SADC has adopted the recommendations of the Rutgers Cooperative Extension dated 2000, updated in 2009, for
tree fruit production.
Natural resource conservation AMP (NJAC 2-78-2A.7)
The SADC has authorized the Soil Conservation Districts to assist development and implementation of a farm
conservation plan for the conservation and development of soil, water and related natural resources on a farm. Sewagesludge applications are not considered part of the AMP. Forestry practices must include those recommended by NJDEP.
This AMP provides an all-purpose sustainability approach to farm management.
AMP for on-farm compost operations on commercial farms (NJAC 2:76-2A.8)
Biosolids cannot be part of the compost mixture. Compost cannot be sold to non-farm users. Production and/or use of
compost must comply with NJ Water Pollution Control Act. Location of any compost product must comply with a
Farm Conservation Plan.
Fencing installation AMP for wildlife control (NJAC 2:76-2A.9)
The SADC has adopted the recommendations from the Rutgers Extension Cooperative Service for installing hightensile and electric fences for wildlife control. Any other type of fencing must be approved by the CADB.
AMP for equine activities on commercial farms (NJAC2:76-2A.10)

Aquaculture AMP (NJAC 2:76-2A.11)
The SADC has adopted the “Recommended Management Practices for Aquatic Farms “as mandatory practices for
protection under the Right to Farm Act. This publication was developed by the Rutgers Cooperative Extension in
2004. However, the section on importation of aquatic organisms has been excluded from this practice.

FARMLAND

This rule regulates the type of feeding regime used on a farm for horses, management of manure, maintenance of
water quality, reduction in flies, manure distribution, dust control, fencing, and environmental concerns, such as
having no manure within 100 feet of any waterway. Not all equine activities qualify for protection under the Right to
Farm Act, i.e. boarding horses and giving lessons do not qualify an operation as a commercial farm which would
allow Right to Farm protections.

Animal Waste Management Practices and Rules (NJAC 2:91 et seq).
The State of New Jersey has adopted a “Best Management Practices” manual for disposing of Animal Waste in order
to best use manure and protect water quality. These rules were adopted as part of a Memorandum of Agreement with
the United States Environmental Protection Agency, to reduce point and non-point source pollution.
Use Animal Waste Best Practices to promote sustainability for farms, farmers and all residents of NJ, so that clean
water is available for agricultural endeavors in the future.
All owners of farm animal units (whereby 1000 lbs of animal is a “unit”) must prepare and keep available an Animal
Waste Plan.
Owners with fewer than eight animal units can prepare their own plans; farmers with eight or more animal units must
get their plans approved by the Natural Resources Conservation District, and a greater number of animal units need
NJDEP approval.


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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

Open Space
& Re c r e a t i o n
www.capeatlantic.org

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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

Why a Sustainable Open Space Plan Matters
Think of “open spaces as part of a broad web of human
activity and ecology, from private to public, from
intensive use to neglect.”12 Open spaces can form the
infrastructure for the developed spaces; as opposed to
the other way around. Open spaces, soils, and preserved
land allow sustainable landscapes for people and for
wildlife. Protecting open spaces in all communities,
however densely populated, is critical in planning
sustainable communities.
“Open space” is a broad term that typically means
natural areas that may be available to the public and
include public parks, golf courses, gardens, and trails
providing active and passive use The rapid pace of
development over the past few decades in New Jersey
has created urgency for the State to focus on open space
preservation. Open space, should be considered a
resource which provides areas for wildlife habitat,
aquifer recharge, cleaner water, scenic qualities,
agricultural areas, passive and active recreation, and a
framework for our built environment.

New Jersey has actively pursued preservation of its open
space and recreation lands. New Jersey’s Municipal
Land Use Law (N.J.S.A. 40:55D-2) directs
municipalities to preserve open space, by purporting:
“Provide light, air and open space;”
“Provide sufficient space in appropriate locations for
a variety of agricultural, residential, recreational,
commercial and industrial uses and open space, both
public and private, according to their respective
environmental requirements in order to meet the
needs of all New Jersey citizens;” and

The citizens of New Jersey have repeatedly supported
open space funding initiatives, both at the state level and
locally, through a series of bond issues and open space
taxes. The NJ Green Acres program is one mechanism
for preserving lands for recreation and conservation
purposes. Since its establishment in 1961, Green Acres
has preserved nearly 640,000 acres of open space and
funded hundreds of park development projects.15 Voters
approved a measure to also include “Blue Acres.” The
State encourages the acquisition of land in the floodways
of the Delaware River, the Passaic River, and the Raritan
River, their respective tributaries, and other areas of
New Jersey that are prone to flooding. Lands acquired
through this program are dedicated for passive recreation
and conservation purposes. Various counties and
municipalities also have open space trust funds to further
local preservation and recreation goals. These state and
local preservation programs can be leveraged in
cooperation with New Jersey’s wide range of nonprofit
land trusts and conservation organizations.
Open space and recreation is not limited to publicly
preserved open spaces. There is open space and
recreationally utilized lands throughout our
communities; these lands may be privately owned.
Although access to these types of open space lands may
not be available to the general public, they are generally
accessible to wildlife, both flora and fauna, and contain
other types of natural resources. Their value is intrinsic
and should not be overlooked when considering the
potential for green infrastructure.

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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

OPEN SPACE

The community benefits of open space preservation
extend beyond environmental resources to property
values, job creation, and tourism. The New Jersey
Conservation Foundation finds that the average home
price increases 16 percent when it is located near
permanently preserved open space, and that $1,7 billion
is spent annually on wildlife recreation, 23 percent of the
total spent by tourists in New Jersey.13

“Promote the conservation of historic sites and
districts, open space, energy resources and valuable
natural resources...and to prevent urban sprawl and
degradation of the environment through improper
use of the land.”14

By developing a comprehensive and integrated open space and recreation plan, a
municipality is able to focus its valuable financial resources on the lands that offer the
most benefits to the community. Each open space acquisition should be approached with
a specific purpose in mind and an understanding of how this particular land (and/or
water) area will contribute to the larger open space system and the overall sustainable
health of the community.

“Open space is not merely an amenity, a
frill among other necessities on the map
of a region, a watershed, or a
community. Rather it is the matrix
where most of the creatures in that
region or community live, and it affects
and controls and is affected by
everything else that is there.”
- Richard P. Kane, The Great Swamp
Watershed Association

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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

Key Concepts
Open space is not just what is left over after
development is done; open space is a significant land
use and essential component of a sustainable
community. To understand open space as a land use is
a concept which involves thinking comprehensively
about how the built environment and the natural
environment relate to one another. Designating open
spaces within a planned network is the basis for a
multi-functional green infrastructure and should
properly be integrated within each component of a
sustainable master plan.
Link open space with the conservation plan,
recreation, natural resources, historic resources,
and community facilities to support one another
and service the municipality as a whole.
Adopt a smart conservation approach, strategically
targeting lands/water that will promote an overall
system of preserved and managed properties.

Develop a ‘greenways’ plan with trail or
pedestrian systems to link open space, parks and
recreation areas. These linkages should be
provided in residential and commercial
neighborhoods, and foster accessibility to public
facilities such as schools, libraries, town halls, and
community buildings.
The ability to walk along a water body, without
actually touching the water, provides a valuable
rejuvenating activity. Map and provide access to
recreational and/or navigable water bodies where
applicable.
Map existing and targeted land/water areas to be
acquired.

Consider green infrastructure as a form of open

Open Spaces are an important component to any Great Place.

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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

OPEN SPACE

Strategically preserve open space at a watershed
level, integrating open space preservation with
water quality and stormwater management
planning across jurisdictional boundaries.
Working across jurisdictions can achieve a greater
benefit for multiple municipalities and counties.

space, especially in urban areas. Green
infrastructure is an alternative to traditional “grey”
infrastructure which uses vegetation and soil to
manage rainwater where it falls, mimicking
natural systems while improving flood mitigation,
water and air quality.

Achieving the goals and objectives of the open space
and recreation plan occurs with its development and
adoption by the municipality. Being clear about its goals
and objectives and laying out a plan for moving forward,
the municipality can organize its resources – both
resident support and financial support.
It is critical to include the citizenry in the development
of the open space and recreation plan because they can
provide a momentum to implement the plan. Ultimately
the residents who have a vested interest will support the
plan over time and help achieve the realization of a
sustainable open space and recreation plan. A
municipality may choose to place responsibility with the
environmental commission, the open space committee
and/or the planning board to initiate a plan. These
groups could be supplemented by an ad-hoc board
comprised of residents and business owners. The
allocation of funds to conduct the planning process
would most come from the governing body.
The open space and recreation plan should include an
executive summary, a list of goals and objectives, an
existing open space inventory, a needs analysis, an
assessment of existing facilities, an action plan for the
future, and supporting data and information. The plan
should receive extensive public review before adoption
by the Planning Board and should include strategies to:
Provide linkages
recreation.

to both

active

and

municipal and regional circulation/mobility plans to
incorporate bicycle and pedestrian paths.
Coordinate the open space system with scenic
byways to encourage opportunities for bicycle and
pedestrian exercise.
Coordinate the municipal open space and recreation
system with adjacent municipalities and counties.
Develop a plan for future acquisition to complete the
open space and recreation system.
Promote sustainable stewardship of preserved lands/
waters.
Provide for low impact development stormwater
management as an element of the municipality’s
green infrastructure.
Provide for agricultural preservation within the
municipality’s open space system.
Provide easy access to maps of the open space and
recreation system, including trails and paths.
Provide opportunities for property owners to plan
for small patches of open space, for example,
volunteer efforts to green one’s own property.
35

passive

Develop trail systems to connect all open space and
recreation lands/waters within the municipality.
Provide access to the open space system from
residential and commercial neighborhoods, as well
as public facilities.
Coordinate the open space system with the historic
preservation plan and historic districts to incorporate
cultural heritage opportunities as a form of
recreation.
Coordinate the open space system with the

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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

NJ Green Acres Program http://www.nj.gov/dep/greenacres/
New Jersey Conservation Foundation, http://www.njconservation.org/resources.htm
Garden State Preservation Trust, http://www.state.nj.us/gspt/
Garden State Greenways, http://www.gardenstategreenways.org/.
Great Swamp Watershed Association, http://www.greatswamp.org/
Trust for Public Land, http://www.tpl.org/publications/
Upper Deerfield’s Open Space and Recreation Plan, developed by DVRPC
http://www.upperdeerfield.org/07023%20-%20Open%20Space%20and%20Recreation%20Plan%20For%20Upper%20
Deerfield%20Township,%20Cumberland%20County,%20NJ.pdf
Pittsgrove’s Open Space and Recreation Plan, developed by Morris Land Conservancy (now Land Conservancy of
NJ)
http://www.pittsgrovetownship.com/Pittsgrove%20Open%20Space%20and%20Recreation%20Plan%20Jan%
202005.pdf
Maplewood Township’s Open Space and Recreation Plan
http://www.twp.maplewood.nj.us/developments/Open%20Space%20and%20Recreation%20Plan%20Element%
20Sept%202008.pdf

The Conservation Fund, Kodak American Greenways Program http://www.conservationfund.org/node/245

OPEN SPACE

Maryland Greenways Commission http://www.dnr.state.md.us/greenways/

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Conservation

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Why a Sustainable Conservation Plan Matters
The development of land may negatively impact a
community’s environment as it requires the use of
energy and natural resources. The results of human
consumption and people pollution affect every aspect of
a community through the degradation air and water
quality, reducing wildlife habitat, and degrading the
ability of our natural systems to provide services, such
as sequestering carbon and recharging aquifers and
groundwater. Crafting a sustainable conservation plan
can intercept further damage to the environment by
establishing sustainable design objectives which
encourage greener development, preservation, and
rehabilitation or restoration practices to minimize
environmental impact. Recognizing the value of
maintaining a healthy ecosystem, a community can
become committed to protecting and enhancing natural
systems.

Conventional urbanization increases impervious surface
area, reduces groundwater recharge, and increases
stormwater runoff. As outlined in the sustainable utilities
plan section, there are opportunities for communities to
encourage building and development that works with the
land, even in an urban environment. For example, as a
matter of public health, safety and welfare, a

Contamination of water not only impairs wildlife habitat
and degrades recreational opportunities, but also
increases the costs associated with treating water to
create a potable supply for residents. No life can survive
without adequate, clean water. People do not want to
live or visit places with dirty water. Well Head
Protection of community wells that provide drinking
water to residents is a critical public health issue.
Contaminated public drinking water has been a
pervasive problem in many areas of New Jersey.
Municipalities can adopt ordinances for well-head
protection to avoid potentially polluting land uses
from being located near community drinking wells.
Preventing water pollution is easier and more cost
effective than cleaning dirty water and using bottled
water for everyday needs.
The same can be said for air quality. Of New Jersey’s
21 counties, 14 of them have failing (F) or just above
failing (D) grades for air quality.15 Serious health
consequences can result from particulates and
pollution in the air, including asthma, lung diseases,
eye irritation, and lower immunity to diseases.
Polluted air is recognized as a grave health risk.
Greenhouse gas emissions and the climate changes
associated with their accumulation in the atmosphere,
pose serious threats and challenges such as: rising sea
levels, changes in rainfall patterns, with both warmer,
dryer weather and more severe droughts and floods,
harsher hurricanes and other windstorms, and new
pathways for disease.

CONSERVATION

Conservation can have a larger impact when considered
on a regional scale. In New Jersey, conservation in areas
like the Highlands, Meadowlands and Pinelands works
to protect contiguous, environmentally sensitive areas
especially for the preservation of water supply and
wildlife habitat. Heightened regulations in these areas
prevent the regions from becoming overdeveloped and
risking the loss of important open spaces, diverse
wildlife and quality of drinking water. Conservation in
these sensitive areas however, allows for responsible
development elsewhere in the state, where it is more
appropriate to promote economic development and
growth. A sustainable Conservation Plan element will
take into consideration these factors on a regional scale
in order to protect the environment, while planning for
growth in existing urban areas.

municipality can model the intent of protecting the
environment by having pesticide-free zones where all
residents are assured a safe recreational environment.
Pesticide-free zones will greatly assist the reduction of
pollutants into our waterways. This could first be
implemented on governmental lands given the amount of
publicly-held land in NJ.

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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

With the large amount of New Jersey’s capital invested in facilities, parks, roads, bridges, waterfronts, and water and
sewage networks, climate changes create significant risks for local governments. The reduction in the use of energy of
all types is necessary to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Although less recognized as pollution problems in New Jersey, the effects of noise and light pollution can have
serious negative environmental effects on people and wildlife. Increasing recognition of these issues should become
part of the discussion on sustainability. The natural environment is inter-connected and the effects of human activity
on all natural systems must be considered in a sustainable community.
Planning and preparing for a sustainable future requires education, action, and the participation of residents, municipal
officials and state agencies and officials. Protection of environmental resources is key to a sustainable existence.
People, wildlife and vegetation need clean water and clean air to survive. Reducing pollution and contaminants are
goals that must be achieved to provide for sustainability.

Key Concepts
NJ has an abundance of natural resources which provide
a diversity of habitat for threatened, endangered and rare
species of wildlife. Protection of the state’s natural
environment allows residents of the state in urban,
suburban, and rural areas to have clean air, clean water,
adequate water supply, and a quality of life that is
enhanced by the continued maintenance of these natural
systems.
Sustainable communities must consider the impact of
global and local climate change on their natural and built
environments, and the relationship between local water
resources, air quality, energy usage, habitat destruction,
light pollution, noise pollution and other environmental
impacts.
Protect and Conserve Water Resources: Quality and
Quantity
Enhance Forest and Habitat for Endangered,
Threatened, and Rare Species of Flora and Fauna
Wetlands

Decrease water use by homes, businesses, and the
municipality
Encourage the installation of low-flow plumbing
fixtures on new construction and encourage
retrofitting fixtures and plumbing in existing
structures.
Establish a system for metering and charging for
water use.
Promote the installation of greywater processing
mechanisms to provide water for gardening, car
washing, and other non-potable uses.
Encourage the installation of water conservation
measures such as rainwater barrels, cisterns/
retention pits and dry wells with incentives such as
waiving local permitting fees for new development
Evaluate and repair water infrastructure
Municipalities with sewer systems should assess
infrastructure for leaks
Municipalities with individual on-site septic systems
should monitor the proper functioning of such
systems.

Stormwater Management
Air Quality and Climate
Alternative Energy and Energy Reduction
Protect and Conserve Water Resources:

Develop a continuing education program, including
proper maintenance of septic systems to avoid
malfunction and costly repairs.

Quality and Quantity

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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

Establish a program regulating the maintenance of
septic systems and require proof of pump-outs and
inspection upon sale of homes.
Eliminate use of pollutants such as pesticides and
fertilizers to maintain clean water supply and protect
surface water quality.
Promote aquifer recharge
Enhance Forest and Habitat for Endangered,
Threatened, and Rare Species of Flora and Fauna
Maintain a Tree Canopy and Replace Cut Trees
Maintaining a continuous, large tree canopy is
critical to protect endangered, threatened and rare
species of plants and animals.
Discourage developers, contractors, and
homeowners from cutting trees, and require the
replacement of trees that are cut.
Provide incentives for developers and contractors to
design their construction around existing vegetation.

Encourage the use of native and other drought
tolerant species for landscaping to conserve water,
reduce pollution, and attract birds and butterflies.
strongly discourage the use of invasive species
which can rapidly colonize open areas, causing harm
to ecosystems and eliminating the natural benefits of
the native species.
The plan should briefly discuss why this is
important from the perspective of habitat as well
as water.
Educate residents
biodiversity

about

the

importance

of

Encourage deer and goose management strategies
Wetlands and Stream Corridors:
Encourage the protection of wetlands to maintain
wildlife habitat and protect clean water

Promote the preservation of green space in and
around urban areas to provide benefits to wildlife
and people.

Encourage the natural filtration process and
reduce flooding through innovative wetlands
techniques such as permaculture, bioretention and
grass swales.

Promote sustainable forestry, even on a small scale,
by encouraging the protection and replacement of
trees.

Establish a monitoring process for protected
wetlands in the municipality.

Encourage the natural process of terrestrial carbon
sequestration, the process through which carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere is absorbed by trees,
plants and crops through photosynthesis, and stored
as carbon in biomass (tree trunks, branches, foliage
and roots) and soils.
Require the use of native and non-invasive vegetation
in new construction and encourage it in established
areas.

Inform and educate the public about the State’s
rules for wetlands protection and the necessity of
keeping wetlands

CONSERVATION

Maintain tree canopy to increase the beneficial
effects such as a reduced carbon footprint, reduced
ambient temperature and increased aesthetic appeal
to a municipality, as well as improved quality of life.

Promote the use of native species and the
replacement of invasive species with appropriate
trees and vegetation will ameliorate a sustainable
vegetative environment. Native and non-invasive
species maintain a balance in nature that avoids a
threat to the diversity of plants and animals.

Encourage innovative parcel configuration to
discourage an applicant from seeking relief from
regulations
Require that developers obtain wetlands permits
before they submit a development application to a
municipality

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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

Protect riparian corridors beyond the State
minimum of 50 feet surrounding all waterways to
300 feet.
Establish a monitoring process for protected stream
corridors in the municipality.

Improve health and quality of life in rural and
residential areas
Reduce light pollution to avoid excessive glare and
light trespass and to aid the natural mechanisms of
birds and other wildlife that require dark skies.
Educate the public about and enforce maximum
decibel levels that are legally acceptable.

Stormwater Management:
Reduce Non-Point Source Pollution
Provide public education to reduce pollutants in
waterways, to eliminate pet waste issues, and to
protect stream corridors.
Develop protocol for municipal public works to
improve sewer systems and avoid government
vehicles wash water to run off.
Reduce excessive stormwater runoff by reducing
impervious cover and increasing vegetation.
Promote non-structural and low-impact techniques
for stormwater management
Encourage the use of dry wells, rain gardens, and
pervious pavement, in addition to requiring compact
developments.
Require low impact development techniques
Adopt stormwater triggers that are more stringent
than those required by the State
Air Quality and Climate:

Warmer Climate
Develop a baseline carbon footprint to measure
current conditions
Develop and implement a climate action plan
Increase vegetative cover, particularly with trees, to
avoid “heat island effect”
Alternative Energy and Energy Reduction:
Encourage all sectors of the municipality (residents,
businesses, schools, places of worship, and
government buildings) to reduce energy usage and
increase conservation measures.
Replace municipal vehicles with those using
alternative fuels – electric, biofuels, and solar
sources.
Develop more pedestrian and bicycle routes in all
municipal centers to reduce the need for automobile
use.

Improve air quality to reduce impacts to long term
health and well-being and to reduce human impact
on climate change.
Plant trees to sequester carbon
Establish neighborhood native-plant gardens
on public property (rights of way, medians,
public playgrounds and other spaces).
Promote “anti-idling” campaigns for motor
vehicles.
Install better-timed traffic lights to avoid
excessive stop-and-go traffic.

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NEW JERSEY CHAPTER

Planning for Sustainable Communities: Master Plan Guidance for New Jersey Officials

Planning for Sustainable Communities: Master Plan Guidance for New Jersey Officials

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