New Jersey's long-awaited "State Strategic Plan", which will serve as a master plan for land development throughout the state, and was due for final approval this week, will have to be rethought in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.
Salvador Rizzo reports that just as it was about to go before the state's Planning Commission for final approval, after more than a year of development, Gov. Chris Christie's "State Strategic Plan" has been "sent back to the drawing board."
"At a news conference today," writes Rizzo, "Christie said the long-awaited plan,
which is intended to replace the guidelines established in 2001, would
take up to six more months to update and complete."
"It made sense for us to put it off and to reconsider it in light of
some of the new challenges that have been presented by the storm and the
aftermath of the storm," the governor said.
Although a revised version of the plan was released last weekend, it has already come in for criticism from Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey Sierra Club. "[He] and others have said Christie's plan would weaken measures to
protect land and clean water and loosen regulations for developers."
"The plan promotes development in the wrong places and does nothing
to protect people in the future from flooding, storm surges, sea level
rise, and other consequences of climate change," Tittel said. "We are
glad the plan was held today and hope significant changes are made."
FULL STORY: Hurricane Sandy causes N.J. to remake its master plan for land development
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
Planning for Accessibility: Proximity is More Important than Mobility
Accessibility-based planning minimizes the distance that people must travel to reach desired services and activities. Measured this way, increased density can provide more total benefits than increased speeds.
World's Largest Wildlife Overpass In the Works in Los Angeles County
Caltrans will soon close half of the 101 Freeway in order to continue construction of the Wallis Annenberg Wildlife Crossing near Agoura Hills in Los Angeles County.
Amtrak Takes Lead on Texas Central Rail
The high-speed rail project isn’t a done deal, but if it moves forward, trains could begin operating in 2030.
Maine Approves Rent Relief Program
Legislators hope the assistance program will help struggling low-income households avoid eviction.
How Transit Architecture Impacts Real and Perceived Safety
More than a third of Americans believe major transit systems are too unsafe to ride. The built environment can change that.
City of Costa Mesa
Licking County
Barrett Planning Group LLC
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Tufts University, Department of Urban and Environmental Policy & Planning
City of Universal City TX
ULI Northwest Arkansas
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.