Serving Ocean, Burlington, Camden & Gloucester Counties
Message from your Southern Area Representative
From the first generation suburbs on the eastern shores of the Delaware River, to the fertile farm belt, to the barrier islands, Southern New Jersey is compact yet diverse. The character of South Jersey varies from urban to rural and everything in between. Planners in this region have opportunities to shape the development and redevelopment of vibrant communities, but also face a multitude of challenges at many levels. These challenges are compounded by today’s economic realities. Redevelopment and revitalization of “greyfields” and commercial corridors, preservation, and promotion of agriculture, economic development, and growth management are relevant issues throughout our region.
How do we continue to be proactive and effective when planning is sometimes viewed as frivolous or when there is aversion to risk taking of any kind? As planners we use our knowledge and technical skills to guide policy and design, but just as importantly we must have the ability to communicate the value of planning to diverse audiences, and we must facilitate dialogue between stakeholders with varied and sometimes competing interests. Though budgets are tight and we await an economic rebound, planning is as important as ever and we have a critical role to play in ensuring that opportunities are not lost.
As the Southern Area Representative, I would like to hear your ideas about how we can work together to improve planning outcomes in our area and would like to hear your suggestions for programs in our region. Additionally, I am happy to bring your concerns to the APA-NJ Executive Committee.
Please feel free to contact me, Leah Furey Bruder, at leah_furey@yahoo.com. I look forward to hearing from you and working with you.