NJ towns want say in development
Tuesday, November 10th, 2009
By: Fit Staff
mcampbell@whyy.org
By Phil Gregory
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A debate in New Jersey is brewing over whether counties or townships should control planning and zoning functions.
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In a recent forum at Rutgers groups like the Builders League of Southern Jersey and Plan Smart New Jersey proposed that county development plans guide growth.
Piscataway Mayor Brian Wahler is President of the New Jersey Conference of Mayors. He says even with moves toward more centralized planning, municipalities still want to have oversight on what goes on in their towns.
Wahler: You have local citizens, the reason why they move to certain towns, is because of the ability of the local towns to control so to speak their own destiny and that will be a large stumbling block. You may get some push-back from local residents.
The State League of Municipalities also favors locally based planning. Executive Director Bill Dressel says before any change in the current system is considered, action is needed on property tax reform.