The Virtues of Planning

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/opinion/the-virtues-of-planning.html?_r=2 

To the Editor:

Planning at its core serves to balance individual property rights with societal needs, like the provision of clean air and clean water. In “Activists Fight Green Projects, Seeing U.N. Plot” (front page, Feb. 4), Tea Party activists demonstrate their unwillingness to participate in what the American Planning Association, New Jersey chapter, believes is an opportunity for communities to work collectively and advocate for good planning.

Whether or not such activities are labeled “green,” it’s beyond that; it is just common sense. Just like the Tea Party, citizen grass-roots initiatives in communities globally are working to save towns money, create new jobs and protect the natural resources every human has an inherent right to enjoy.

Unlike the Tea Party movement, these initiatives present options for better planning to ensure that we respect our planet and keep it sustainable for future generations. Claiming that these planning initiatives come from the United Nations is just wrong.

CHARLES LATINI Jr.
ANGELA CLERICO

New Brunswick, N.J., Feb. 14, 2012

The writers are, respectively, president and Sustainability Committee chairwoman, American Planning Association, New Jersey chapter.

The Project Coordinator position will involve providing support to a professional team of staff and consultants lead by the Town of Greenburgh and Orange County. Work will include but not be limited to project organization, logistical support, extensive public outreach, and technical review of documents. The majority of the work will be based in Greenburgh, New York but includes study area of seven Counties in Mid-Hudson region of New York State.

The successful candidate should have experience in research, project management, and the management of consultants. Knowledge and experience in land use planning, energy policy, and local government is desirable. Ability to manage time and workload effectively is required. The ability to communicate with civic, community, government and other special interest groups is essential. Successful candidate must demonstrate effective communication skills, both written and oral, as well as computer proficiency in word processing, spreadsheets, presentation and related software.

Job Requirements
Qualified candidates must hold a bachelor’s degree in planning or a related field, and have a minimum of three years of experience in land use planning, energy or public policy, education or government (or any combination of related experience) and valid driver’s license. The position will involve night meetings and travel; applicant must have a car to use.

A. Candidates must submit a statement of interest with rate of pay and resume. Rates shall include all labor rates, fees, insurance, taxes, etc. for the position. No other costs, fees, expenses or surcharges shall be paid to the selected successful applicant other than the per position hourly rate. Pricing rate shall be exclusive of federal and state taxes and must not include any tax for which the Offer or may claim exemption because of doing business with the Town.

B. Background and Experience: Provide a brief history of your experience with similar projects.

C. References: Names and contact information for at least three (3) clients for which similar projects have been completed.

Salary and Benefits
The Town anticipates that the term of this contract will be for eight (8) months from March 1, 2012 to October 31, 2012  

How to Apply
Qualified candidates must forward a resume to Town of Greenburgh, Attn: Thomas Madden, AICP Commissioner Community Development and Conservation, 177 Hillside Avenue, Greenburgh, NY, 10607. Position is open until filled. First review of applications/resumes will be on Monday, February 20, 2012. Posting/application found on-line: www.greenburghny.com. ADA/EOE.

Email: tmadden@greenburghny.com

DEADLINE:  02/29/2012

Senator Menendez, Senator Lautenberg, Congressman Andrews, Congressman LoBiondo, Congressman Runyan, Congressman Smith, Congressman Garrett, Congressman Pallone, Congressman Lance, Congressman Pascrell, Congressman Rothman, Congressman Payne, Congressman Frelinghuysen, Congressman Holt and Congressman Sires

The New Jersey Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA-NJ) representing over 1,000 professional planners has carefully reviewed versions of the House surface transportation bill (HR7) and the Senate’s version of the bill (MAP-21) and we urge you to provide increased funding of up to $500 billion for the study, design, and construction of transportation infrastructure over a six (6) year timeframe, along with the many changes noted below. We sincerely hope that the political differences in Congress will not derail a much needed extension because there are far too many citizens in the United States (including our members in NJ and over 40,000 nationwide), who are unemployed or underemployed or fearful of being in those circumstances. We urge the swift passage of a federal Surface Transportation Reauthorization compromise bill that will help jumpstart an economy that has been on life support for far too long. 

There are numerous reauthorization elements that APA-NJ supports. The elimination of earmarks is a great step in the right direction. Increasing the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (TIFIA) loan program from $122 million to $1 billion per year will help provide necessary financing. Enhancing the Railroad Rehabilitation and Improvement Financing (RRIF) program to make it more efficient and predictable is worthwhile, as is extending the Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation deadline from 2015’s end to Dec. 31, 2020. This will give the freight and rail transit community more time to implement PTC without jeopardizing their entire capital spending programs over the next two to three years.

We also support the continued funding of the Job Access and Reverse Commute (JARC) program and are looking forward to the creation of a new pilot program to enhance transit-oriented development with planning grants. The expansion of the Rail Modernization program to include “high-intensity bus” networks will help expand a very cost-effective mode of transportation. The streamlining of the FTA New Starts program will eliminate duplicative steps and allow smaller projects ($100 million or less) to complete an expedited review process. Getting projects out from under endless unnecessary study and review and towards construction and implementation is an especially worthwhile goal given that we are living through the deepest economic recession since “The Great Depression”.

Still, there are numerous proposed reauthorization elements that concern us. A 25% cut to Amtrak funding for operations will result in fare increases and service reductions. Any proposal that leaves open the possibility for undedicated funding of public transit, such as the proposed “Alternative Transportation Account”, should remain off the table since it could lead to a decrease in transit funding. Most transit systems around the world are publicly subsidized because of the well known benefits they provide such as: reducing air pollution, congestion and wear and tear on roadway infrastructure; and providing enhanced mobility access to those who do not drive due to physical impairments or a lack of income to support automobile ownership.

We don’t support the elimination of the TIGER grant program which has been one of the most worthwhile federal programs. Just how high has the demand been for TIGER grant funding? According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), in 2009 and 2010 they received 2,400 applications requesting $76 billion for only $2.1 billion that was available in TIGER 1 and TIGER II. In 2011, the DOT received 848 applications requesting $14.28 billion, which well exceeded the $511 million that was available. Ultimately, over $90 billion in TIGER funding has been requested to date for $2.6 billion of grant funding. The recently released TIGER IV $500 million program will also come up way short, given the strong need for more transportation funding, not less. 

APA-NJ urges against any proposed elimination of programs that support bicycle and pedestrian access such as the Transportation Enhancements (TE), Safe Routes to School, Scenic Byways, Transportation Community and System Preservation program (TCSP), and elimination of state bicycle and pedestrian coordinators. These programs have been the primary funding source for countless sidewalks, crosswalks, bicycle lanes, trails and more.  Elimination of funding for these improvements will exacerbate the huge personal and monetary costs of obesity and diabetes as well as the continued dependence on foreign fuels. Significant modification of the Congestion Mitigation Air Quality program (CMAQ), including allowing funds to be used for the first time for non-HOV highway expansion and construction is a step in the wrong direction. Unlike other highway programs, CMAQ funding would also remain flat; while the need for such funding has never been greater, given the poor air quality in many areas of the United States.

One of the core issues of concern to APA-NJ has been the lack of an agreed upon funding plan that can pass muster with all members of Congress and help this important reauthorization become a reality. Since the share of federal gasoline tax going into the Highway Trust Fund keeps on shrinking, it’s time to develop alternative sources of financing. However, proposed increased drilling of oil, and the use of resultant royalties received to create funding for transportation, gives us a cause for concern. Furthermore, any tying of the approval of the Keystone XL pipeline to the acceptance of any Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill being moved forward will only further delay the progression of much needed job creation.

Just as the Marshall Plan helped to rebuild infrastructure around the world after World War II, perhaps one option to consider would be to move funding over from the Department of Defense, which is in the process of trimming itself back, in order that we may rebuild the United States transportation infrastructure that has been in decline over many decades. It’s time to put any partisan rancor aside, join together as a nation, and focus on addressing our own critical transportation infrastructure needs. That in turn will increase our economic competitiveness abroad and bring us future prosperity.

Donations may be made to the Kirwan family for the education of Meghan and Ryan.

Please mail donations to Lorraine Frank, 47 Barnegat Road, Hewitt, NJ 07421.

TRENTON, N.J. – New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) Acting Commissioner Richard E. Constable III today announced the launch of a new Capital Needs Survey that will collect information on the repair, restoration and improvement needs of historic sites throughout the state. The New Jersey Historic Trust, a DCA affiliate, is leading the effort and encourages all publicly owned and nonprofit-managed sites to participate in the survey.

“The Historic Trust recognizes that even our state’s most notable and celebrated historic sites and attractions have significant needs for repairs and improvements, all of which will ultimately serve the public better,” said Acting Commissioner Constable. “This survey will help the Trust identify those specific needs and begin to quantify the costs associated with making these historic buildings relevant and useful in their communities.”

The survey will begin on February 1, 2012, and run until May 1, 2012. It will pose questions about a building’s use, repair needs, projected repair costs, and, if appropriate, its participation in heritage tourism development.

A “historic building” is defined as a structure that was built more than 50 years ago, or prior to 1962.  A property does not need to be listed on the state or national Register of Historic Places to be included in the survey. Buildings that may participate include: historic residences, farmsteads, factories, theaters, museums, houses of worship, fire houses, libraries, railroad stations, schools and more. Buildings owned by private homeowners or businesses are not eligible for this survey.

This is the second Capital Needs Survey in the State of New Jersey. The first, in 1990, identified capital needs of more than $400 million. The results of the survey helped garner public support for four historic preservation bond referendums in the 1990s, and sustain historic preservation funding from the Garden Sate Preservation Trust from 2000 to 2010.

This year, the Historic Trust is hoping to attract more participants by making the survey accessible online. 

“By using the Internet and making the survey easy to complete and submit, we hope to reach as many historic site stewards as possible,” said Historic Trust Executive Director Dorothy Guzzo. “The broader the participation, the better picture we will have of the state’s real need for historic preservation funding. “

Upon completion of the survey, the data will be analyzed and the capital needs of the state’s historic properties will be tallied and published by the end of the year. The Historic Trust will use the information to prioritize and/or revise criteria for its program, as well as to alert the community to begin thinking about their future stewardship needs.

“The Capital Needs Survey will provide New Jersey with important financial data to illustrate the continuing need for investment in the state’s historic resources,” said Historic Trust Chair Chris Perks. “Funding the preservation of existing buildings and structures helps make our communities more sustainable as well as enjoyable.”

The Historic Trust administers grants from the Garden State Historic Preservation Trust Fund, the NJ Cultural Trust Capital Preservation Grant Program, the “Discover NJ History” License Plate Fund and the 1772 Foundation Grant Program for New Jersey. Since 1990, the Historic Trust has awarded more than $134 million in matching preservation grants to sites in every county of the state.

Established in 1967, the New Jersey Historic Trust is the only nonprofit historic preservation organization in New Jersey created by state law. Its mission is to advance historic preservation in New Jersey for the benefit of future generations through education, stewardship and financial investment programs that saves the state’s heritage and strengthens its communities.

For more information on the New Jersey Historic Trust, please visit http://www.njht.org.

For more information on the Capital Needs Survey, log on to http://fs19.formsite.com/NJHT/CapitalNeedsSurvey/index.html.

Beginning February 10 through March 30, instructors will present during 2 hour webinars each Friday morning between 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. EST. The webinars will cover the following topics:

February 10 – Exam Overview
February 10 – Spatial Analysis of Planning Practice
February 17 – Functional Areas of Planning Practice
February 24- Public Participation and Social Justice
March 2- Plan Making and Implementation
March 9 – Research and Quantitative Methods
March 16- Planning Law
March 23- AICP Code of Ethics
March 30 – Planning History and Theory

Up to 1000 participants from chapters participating in the webinar cooperative (please consult with your chapter’s Professional Development Officer to learn if your chapter is a member of the co-op) will be able to register for the course for free. Most presentation materials and webcasts will be available after the meeting. Recorded webcasts and referenced materials will be posted to the Utah APA chapter website at http://www.utah-apa.org/webcast-archive under a new title referencing the 2012 AICP Exam Review Series. Limited materials are proprietary to the instructor and will only be available during the live webinar.

Register for a session now by clicking a date below. You should also be able to register via a link to the Utah state chapter website soon via http://www.utah-apa.org/webcasts

Please remember to register for each webinar in the series:

Fri, Feb 10, 2012 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST

Fri, Feb 17, 2012 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST

Fri, Feb 24, 2012 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST

Fri, Mar 2, 2012 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST

Fri, Mar 9, 2012 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EST

Fri, Mar 16, 2012 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EDT

Fri, Mar 23, 2012 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EDT

Fri, Mar 30, 2012 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM EDT

Once registered you will receive an email confirming your registration with information you need to join the webinar. System Requirements are as follows:

PC-based attendees Macintosh®-based attendees

Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer

Questions?

If you have immediate questions about the 2012 AICP Exam Review webinar series, please contact Lauren Blackburn, Vice President for Professional Development for the North Carolina chapter of the American Planning Association. You may reach Lauren by email at lblackburn@ci.davidson.nc.us. If you have questions about the webinar cooperative in general, please contact Chris Brown, Professional Development Officer for the New Jersey chapter of the American Planning Association. Chris is the Continuing Education Planning Webcast Series Coordinator for the cooperative and may be reached at christopher.alex.brown@gmail.com.

NOTE:  Copies of the book will be available for purchase within the next couple weeks. Check back to our website shortly.

The Redevelopment Handbook was originally published in 2003 to provide municipalities with a guide to the various techniques that can be used to invigorate an area that is not physically or economically contributing to the community. The 2nd edition follows the same format and offers technical resources and guidance that provide readers with the opportunity to explore the benefits of redevelopment and plan for targeted growth in their communities. 

The new edition demonstrates that many towns can benefit from strategic revitalization, particularly as New Jersey’s suburbs begin to show their age. It also includes examples of how updating the appearance and functionality of worn structures and obsolete land uses can bring new energy and life to a community.

The Redevelopment Handbook was coauthored by Stan Slachetka and David Roberts with assistance from the staff of the Department of Community Affairs.

Slachetka is a licensed professional planner and Associate and Planning Group Manager with the Middletown-based firm of T&M Associates. Roberts is a Department Manager with the Red Bank-based firm of Maser Consulting. He is a licensed professional planner and a certified landscape architect in New Jersey, and a registered landscape architect in five states.

The APA-NJ’s Ethnic & Cultural Diversity Committee (ECDC) is providing opportunities for organizations and researchers to highlight their work and/or best practices that reflect interesting perspectives for regional equity and/or cultural and ethnic communities to a large audience. ECDC is requesting proposals for its ongoing ECDC’s 4Thought Forum Series and potentially future APA-NJ Webinars and/or the APA-NJ Annual State Planning Conference.

In 2011, the 4Thought Forum Series garnered major interest with an overwhelming attendance of planners, government workers, community leaders and interested parties.

The 4Thought Forum Series is two hours in length and held four times a year. The goal of the Series is to fulfill ECDC’s mission by providing a formal set of forums that:

• Identify approaches and practices that effectively promote regional equity (social, economic, transportation and/or environmental)
• Introduce new and trending approaches or planning practices that effectively respond to the social, economic and physical needs of cultural enclaves and/or inner-city communities
• Provide clearer understanding of settlement patterns of various cultures and ethnicities
• Discuss self-sustaining and livable communities practices for disinvested communities
• Introduce planning or professional development topics that are seldom discussed in a formalized setting that may be cultural or ethnic specific
• Provide opportunities for minority owned firms to highlight their unique services to the planning community
• Give an interesting perspective on any culture or ethnic community

The ECDC’s mission is to provide ongoing education forums and opportunities for professional planners, planning students and university faculty of different backgrounds to network, share ideas and bring recognition to unique values and perspectives.

Proposal Formats

General 4Thought Forum
All 4Thought Series Forums are 2 hours in length.

Complete Session proposals include:

• Proposed session title
• General description
• Outline of session
• Key Learning Objectives (at least 2)
• Case Studies (if applicable)
• Supporting Research (if applicable)
• Key information attendees will take back to their community or jobs?
• Speakers biographies

* The APA-NJ ECDC will work with organizers on securing a date/time and venue.

 Potential Themes

• Transportation and Equity
• Equitable Capital Disbursements
• Planning for Ethnic & Cultural Enclaves
• Gentrification
• Planning for the Unbanked and Underbanked
• Digital Divide
• Meaningful Public Outreach/Participation/Inclusion
• Complete Inclusion – youth, seniors, women, immigrants, homeless
• Food Deserts/Access
• Health and Nutrition
• Open Space and Recreational/Play Space in Urban Areas
• Promoting Civic Engagement
• Health Impact Assessments/Environmental Justice
• Law
• Policy
• Diversity in the Planning Profession
• Bike/pedestrian planning in lower income and/or immigrant neighborhoods

Submitting a Proposal
Proposals will be accepted on a rolling basis. Respondents to this request should submit their proposals via email to Tiffany Robinson, ECDC Chair at ecdc.nj@gmail.com. Ms. Robinson can be reached at (973) 946-5685 for questions.

Contacts:
New Jersey Future: Chris Sturm at 609-393-0008, ext. x114.
Regional Plan Association: Robert Freudenberg at (609) 228-7080, ext 1
American Planning Association/NJ Chapter: Charles Latini at 212-203-5137

A1338/S743 Undermines Regional Planning in the Highlands, Pinelands; Adds Farmland, Open Space to “Smart Growth Areas”

A1338/S743, which extends the effective period of the Permit Extension Act of 2008 and expands the locations for permit extensions, will be considered by the Assembly Housing and Local Government Committee on January 30th.

Extending permits in smart-growth areas during an economic downturn is not unreasonable.

However, the bill undermines regional planning by amending its definition of “environmentally sensitive area” to remove the Pinelands and Highlands regions from areas where permit extensions are prohibited. Why should preservation areas in the rest of the state be exempt from permit extensions, but not the water-rich Pinelands and Highlands regions? The bill also includes a confusing clause that extends all permits in the Pinelands, raising potential conflicts with federal law. (See sections 3 (i) and section 2 (b) (2).)

The bill creates a new definition for a smart-growth area that includes places that have never been included before, and should never be included:

• The entire Highlands Planning Area, including not only identified growth areas, but also many environmentally sensitive areas where growth should not occur.
• Planning Area 4, The Rural Planning Area, which comprises much of the countryside of New Jersey, characterized by “large masses of cultivated or open land” where the state’s intention is to “maintain large contiguous areas of farmland and open space and accommodate growth in Centers.”
• Planning Area 3, The Fringe Planning Area, a “predominantly rural landscape” with limited infrastructure, appropriate for “development and redevelopment in appropriately located and designed Centers to accommodate growth that would otherwise occur in the Environs.”

This new definition of smart growth areas clearly conflicts with the Christie administration’s State Strategic Plan, which emphasizes farmland preservation in Agriculture Development Areas. It contradicts the Highlands Act by describing the entire Highlands Planning Area as appropriate for growth. While this new definition will have a limited effect on which permits can be extended, we believe the longer-term intent may be to establish an expansive definition for where growth should be encouraged that could be used in future legislation, thereby opening these rural and environmentally sensitive areas to a host of development incentives.

As organizations committed to sound land-use planning, we oppose the bill as written. It should be amended to simply extend the date that permit extensions expire, rather than redefine smart growth areas and undermine the Highlands and Pinelands regional planning efforts.

Thank you for your consideration.

Download the Testimony