The Office of Planning and Sustainable Communities was formed to facilitate the Department's move toward a proactive planning approach based on principles of sustainability and environmental capacity-based planning.
Mission
To coordinate the sustainable development and environmental capacity-based planning policies of the Department and proactively work with other state agencies, regional entities, local governments and other groups to incorporate these policies into all levels of land use and environmental planning.
Background
In January, 2007, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) adopted its Policy Priorities and Action Plan which outlines the strategic direction of the agency over the next three years. The Plan identifies eight broad goal areas and underlying objectives.
One of the eight goal areas is Sustainable Growth:
Maximize use of department resources to encourage sustainable growth and livable communities by incorporating consistent criteria for the protection of natural resources and development of smart growth and green design principles into DEP rulemaking, priority setting and planning efforts, other state smart and economic growth priorities, and in regional and local planning efforts.
The first objective of this goal is:
“Incorporate sustainable growth and environmental protection criteria into state, regional and local planning.”
At the core of this goal is a recognized need for more progressive statewide environmental planning by the Department to help inform the local land use development and redevelopment process. Historically, the Department has engaged primarily in environmental planning in targeted areas based on statutory direction. Critically important work has been done in such areas as water quality management planning, water supply master planning, habitat protection planning (Landscape Project) and county/state solid waste planning. DEP is now committed to ensuring that these various planning programs are integrated and coordinated so that our guidance to regional and local planning agencies is consistent, comprehensive and supportive of both local and state priorities.
In a significant business practice improvement, DEP is also committed to implementing the Sustainable Growth goal by broadening the scope of its major project review process by requiring consideration and rewarding incorporating of green design the principles and practices.
The Department’s extensive and innovative application of information technology systems, such as the New Jersey Environmental Management System (NJEMS), DEP's Geographic Information System, i-MapNJ, and Data Miner now provide us with unprecedented opportunities to share information to help guide the development and redevelopment process.
Taken together, our advances with information technology and business practice reform now enable us to engage in progressive environmental planning to address such pressing statewide issues such as sustainable growth, environmental justice, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and water resource protection in new, innovative ways.
Staff and Contact Information
- Jeanne Herb, Assistant Commissioner, Policy and Planning
- Elizabeth Semple, Manager
- Nick Angarone, PP, AICP – Highlands, Regional Planning (North), Sussex County
- Rick Brown – Regional Planning (South), Burlington County, Affordable Housing help desk liaison
- Joe Donald – Regional Planning (South), Cumberland and Monmouth Counties
- Dave DuMont – GIS Specialist
- Jennifer Feltis – Regional Planning (South)
- Bill Purdie – Regional Planning (South), Cape May County
- Marty Rosen – Sustainable Communities, Regional Planning (North)
- Athena Sarafides – Green Design, Sustainable Communities
- Veda Truesdale – Sustainable Communities, Regional Planning (North)
Office of Planning and Sustainable Communities
401 E. State Street, 7 floor east
Box 402
Trenton, NJ 08625-0402
Phone: (609) 341-5311
Fax: (609) 292-3268
Office of Planning and Sustainable Communities Fact Sheet (pdf)
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