Planning
The BARC administers Camden County's smart growth and regional planning programs. It assists the County Planning Board and other County agencies by coordinating regional land use and economic development policy with other county concerns, such as transportation, environmental protection, health and human services, etc. It does so by promoting integration of the following Smart Growth Principles in the county, municipal, private and non-profit sector development decisions.
New Jersey law delegates local land use, zoning and development approval powers to municipalities. It also authorizes counties as regional planning entities, responsible for coordinating inter-municipal land use, transportation, open space, environmental, infrastructure, and other important issues. Like their municipal counterparts, County Planning Boards must adopt master plans to guide future development, redevelopment and conservation policies.
Smart growth is using land development, redevelopment and conservation practices that serve the environment, the economy, and the community equally. Because land use practices have a significant impact on other public policy issues, such as public health and education costs, road and infrastructure maintenance costs, resource sustainability and social equity, smart growth is not just a land use issue. It affects everyone.
Smart Growth has four main goals:
- To protect and conserve natural and cultural resources, such as water, wildlife habitats and historic districts, for present and future generations;
- To save money and conserve material, labor, energy and fiscal resources needed to build, maintain and operate public infrastructure, such as roads, schools, and healthcare facilities;
- To promote and provide opportunity for sustainable economic development and housing in appropriate locations; and
- To ensure opportunity and the social equity of all citizens in decisions that affect their future.
These ten objectives are based on those developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
- Mixed land uses
- Compact, clustered community design
- Range of housing choice & opportunity
- Walkable neighborhoods
- Distinctive, attractive communities offering a sense of place
- Open space, farmland and scenic resource preservation
- Direct future development to existing communities with infrastructure
- Transportation options and variety
- Predictable, fair & cost-effective development decisions
- Community & stakeholder collaboration in development decision-making