IMPLEMENTING SOMERSET COUNTY S INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK

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1 IMPLEMENTING SOMERSET COUNTY S INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK SMART CONSERVATION THROUGH SMART GROWTH NJ LAND CONSERVATION RALLY March 22, 2014 Laurette Kratina, PP, AICP, Supervising Planner Somerset County Planning Board

2 OVERVIEW Why this initiative is important & how it can be replicated Stakeholder Outreach Process and Methodology How the County Investment Framework is being Implemented Alignment of State Programs and Initiatives

3 SOMERSET COUNTY INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK (CIF) PURPOSE: Provide a criteria-based framework for identifying areas most suitable for growth and Preservation GOALS: Support ongoing regional and local smart growth, preservation, economic revitalization, sustainability and resiliency planning initiatives Achieve tactical alignment of land use, infrastructure and preservation plans, resources, programs, policies and investment decisions Convey a clear investment message regarding local and regional land use priorities to both public and private sectors

4 CIF ADVANTAGES Facilitates the transition from the old SPPM to the Draft SSP s new Criteria-based Investment Framework Stands on its own as the geographic framework for the Updated Somerset County Strategic Plan Builds upon the history of sound, comprehensive Smart Growth Planning at the municipal level Grounded by current data on environmental, infrastructure and community conditions and policies Reflects emerging locational preferences

5 HOW WAS THE CIF DEVELOPED? Used the State s definitions for PGIAs, PPIAs, AGIAs and LGIAs Applied the State s core Geographic Criteria Added to, deleted or modifying the results based county-specific Essential and Supplemental Criteria in coordination with municipalities Made the process as objective (and replicable) as possible Engaged OPA, municipalities and stakeholders from the outset Built upon stakeholder relationships to refine and strengthen the results through a continuous update process Utilizes a bottom-up process that results in greater stakeholder buy-in and support

6 WHAT ARE THE KEY COMPONENTS? Priority Growth Investment Areas Priority Preservation Investment Areas Alternate Growth Investment Areas Local Priority Areas Limited Growth Investment Areas

7 PRIORITY GROWTH INVESTMENT AREAS (PGIAs) ARE PLACES WHERE: Primary economic growth and community development strategies that enhance quality of life and economic competitiveness are preferred; Appropriate, growth-inducing investments are encouraged; Existing development, infrastructure and community facilities are concentrated; and Vibrant, mixed-use, live work environments within walking distance of transit and green space are desired.

8 PRIORITY GROWTH INVESTMENT AREAS (PGIAS)

9 PGIA CORE CRITERIA (automatically eligible) Former State Plan Policy Map PA1 (Metropolitan) State Designated Centers, Urban Complexes and Nodes State-identified Regional Innovation Clusters TDR Receiving Areas Federally Designated Foreign Trade Zones Higher Education Facilities Urban Enterprise Zones Designated Areas in Need of Redevelopment Transit Villages & Urban Transit Hubs NJ Sports and Exposition Authority Lands Closed Military Facilities Freight Logistic Areas like Ports

10 ADDITIONAL PGIA ELLIGIBLE AREAS (Areas that do not meet the Core criteria can become PGIAs if they meet the following criteria) Contain or within ½ Mile of a key Transportation Asset Within a Water Supply Purveyor Area Within a Sewer Service Area Appropriate zoning and land use patterns

11 SUPPLEMENTAL CRITERIA FOR VERIFYING AND CHARACTERIZING PGIAS (PGIAs that do not meet the Core Criteria must also meet half of the following Supplemental Criteria ) Contain municipally-designated Redevelopment Areas Contain or is within ½ mile of substations associated with 69 kv Electric Lines Contain or within ½ mile of a State Highway Contain or within ½ mile of an Interstate Interchange Contain or within ½ mile of a passenger rail station Contain or within ½ mile of regular bus service Contain or within ½ mile of freight rail system Served by Fiber Optics Within 10 miles of Higher Education Institutions Contain or within ½ mile of a concentration of housing opportunities, retail and civic amenities

12 WHAT ARE SOMERSET S PGIA & LPA RESULTS TO DATE? 24 PGIAs and 15 LPAs identified countywide PGIAs comprise 11% of the County s land area Each community has at least one PGIA or LPA All are located in areas substantially served by existing infrastructure and utilities All PGIAs are in close proximity to transit hubs and regional highways PGIAs place types range from major transit-served centers to industrial corridors LPAs include small village centers, existing neighborhoods and/or small commercial nodes GIS parcel-based boundaries have been prepared Written support submitted by 10 out of 21 municipalities thus far

13 PRIORITY PRESERVATION INVESTMENT AREAS (PPIAs)

14 WHAT IS THE PUPOSE OF PPIAs? Provide a coordinated, regional framework for directing policies, programs and investments aimed at the preservation and enhancement of open space, rural and historic landscapes, environmental sensitive areas and agricultural resources at all levels of government Encourage the private and public sectors and non-profit community to work together to leverage investments to achieve regional preservation goals Reinforce open space and capital improvement plans at all jurisdictional levels Promote implementation of land stewardship BMPs

15 WHAT ARE THE CORE CRITERIA FOR IDENTIFYING PPIAs? Land permanently protected through public investment or density transfer Land targeted for preservation within the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (CORP) and/or County Open Space Master Plan County-designated Agricultural Areas Green Acres-Approved Planning Incentive grant Areas NJ Highlands Council Preservation Area, Conservation and Protection Zones

16 CRITERIA USED FOR IDENTIFYING ADDITIONAL PPIAs 1) Areas that meet the SPP Core Criteria are automatically eligible to become PPIAs 2) Areas that do not meet the SSP Core Criteria are potentially eligible to become PPIAs if they meet the following Essential Criteria : Permanently preserved through an alternate mechanism or targeted for preservation in a regional or municipal master plan Adjoins, potentially adjoins or link a State Core PPIA and/or is part of a greenway corridor or special resource area (or equivalent) identified in a regional or municipal plan Exhibits appropriate zoning and/or land use patterns

SUPPLEMENTAL CRITERIA USED BY SOMERSET FOR VERIFYING & IDENTIFYING PPIAs (Continued) 3) Areas that do not meet the SSP Core Criteria are potentially eligible to become PPIAs if they also meet half of

17 SUPPLEMENTAL CRITERIA USED BY SOMERSET FOR VERIFYING & IDENTIFYING PPIAs (Continued) 3) Areas that do not meet the SSP Core Criteria are potentially eligible to become PPIAs if they also meet half of the following Supplemental Criteria : Protects groundwater Contains regulated environmental features Protects potable water supplies Comprises an existing or proposed green infrastructure facility or site Designated scenic byways and adopted scenic roadway corridors Sites included in National/State Historic Register or within recognized historic districts Former State Plan Policy Map PA 4, 4B & 5, CES, HCS and Special Resource Areas Comprise Municipal Preservation Zone (min. lot size >6 acres) Highlands RMP Conservation and/or Protection Zones

18 WHAT ARE SOMERSET S PPIA RESULTS TO-DATE? EXISTING PRESERVED LAND NATIONAL: 175 Acres STATE: 6,675 Acres COUNTY: 12,443 Acres LOCAL: 18,386 Acres EXISTING PRESERVED FARMS 8,355 Total Acres PRIMARY GREENWAYS: 11 SPECIAL RESOURCE AREAS: 3 ELIGIBLE FARMS Within ADAs: 18,323 Acres (37,679 Total Acres) Total PGIAs = 49% of the County

19 COUNTY INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK IMPLEMENTATION

20 2014 PGIA IMPLEMENTATION INITIATIVES SUPPORTING PRIORITY GROWTH INVESTMENT PHASE I Create an inventory of industries and businesses within each PGIA Establish existing baseline development conditions (land use, zoning, building square footages and occupancy information and facility/age/condition) Assess current land use policies and regulations and their impact on growth Identify critical infrastructure limitations and build-out conditions under current zoning Identify areas within PGIAs close to jobs/transit that are suitable for expansion with work force housing

21 2014 PGIA IMPLEMENTATION INITIATIVES SUPPORTING PRIORITY GROWTH INVESTMENT PHASE II Select 6 PGIAs (corridors, nodes and sub-areas) from original 24 PGIAs Develop detail infrastructure investment plans Conduct a Market Trends Analysis Prepare Strategic Investment Framework Plans Develop an Implementation Matrix Complete County Natural and Cultural Resource Inventory and Guide

22 OTHER ONGOING COUNTY PGIA IMPLEMENTATION INITIATIVES SOMERSET COUNTY BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP Sustainable Somerset Committee Somerset Green Challenge RIDEWISE HIGH PERFORMING BUILDINGS TOOL KIT SOMERSET COUNTY PLANNING BOARD Somerset County Economic Development Strategy Somerset County Regional Center Partnership Somerset County Redevelopment Report Update Somerset County Circulation Plan Raritan Valley Rail Coalition Somerset County Energy Council HEALTHIER SOMERSET COALITION and more.

23 STATE PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT REUSE AND REDEVEOPMENT NJ ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES ACT NJ BROWNFIELD INTER-AGENCY WORKING GROUP PROJECT SUPPORT INITIATIVE NJ BUSINESS ACTION CENTER Financial and Incentive Programs Permitting and Regulatory Assistance Site Selection Services International Trade Programs and Resources Workforce Development Programs NJDEP Sustainable Community Resources NJ Infrastructure Trust Fund TNJ Local Demonstration Projects and Capacity Grants and more

24 BY MOVING TOWARD A CRITERIA-BASED INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK ENVISIONED IN THE DRAFT SSP, STATE TAX INCENTIVES CAN BE BETTER FOCUSED ON AREAS WHERE GROWTH -INDUCING INVESTMENTS ARE APPROPRIATE

2014 PPIA IMPLEMENTATION INITIATIVES NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY & GUIDE Best Management Practice Case Studies Regulatory Framework Matrix Land Use/Land Cover Time Series Analysis Main

25 2014 PPIA IMPLEMENTATION INITIATIVES NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCE INVENTORY & GUIDE Best Management Practice Case Studies Regulatory Framework Matrix Land Use/Land Cover Time Series Analysis Main and Supplemental Chapter Maps Chapter Text (Resource Benefits & Impacts) SOMERSET GREEN TEAM LEADERSHIP FORUM Inaugural Meeting March 31 st Inventory of County Partner Sustainability Initiatives NJDEP ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP CERTIFICATE

26 OTHER ONGOING COUNTY PPIA IMPLEMENATION INITIATIVES Somerset County Farmland Preservation Program Somerset County Open Space Preservation Program Somerset County Historic Preservation Program

27 STATE PROGRAMS THAT PROTECT, PRESERVE & RESTORE ENVIRONMENTAL AND AGRICULTURAL RESOURCES SADC GREEN ACRES BLUE ACRES WILDLIFE HABITAT CONNECTIVITY INITIATIVE WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLANS SITE REMEDIATION PROGRAM HIGHLANDS & PINELANDS ACT NJ INFRASTRUCTURE TRUST FUND and more.

28 OTHER SOMERSET COUNTY INVESTMENT FRAMEWORK IMPLEMENTATION INITIATIVES Complete remaining components of the Sustainable Somerset Strategic Plan Vision, Guiding Principles and Objectives Plan Implementation Agenda Performance Measures Ongoing update of GIS-based Asset Maps Routine update of County Investment Framework Completion of County Wastewater Management Plan Update of Various County Master Plan Elements County Hazard Mitigation Plan

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Somerset County Planning Board 20 Grove Street Somerville, NJ 08876 Phone: (908) 231-7021 E-mail:

29 FOR MORE INFORMATION: Somerset County Planning Board 20 Grove Street Somerville, NJ Phone: (908) Fax: (908) Website:

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