>State Planning Commission approves strategic growth plan without specifying where the growth will be
The Christie administration’s revamped strategic plan for targeting growth in New Jersey won speedy approval yesterday from the State Planning Commission, despite concerns of smart growth advocates that the draft plan lacked any details about where the growth would be directed.
In a meeting in the Statehouse Annex, the commission unanimously approved the plan with little debate and without hearing any comments from the public — much to the annoyance of people who showed up to talk about the initiative.
The plan is a radical reworking of a State Plan and Redevelopment Plan put in place a decade ago that failed to be reflected in policies carried out by governmental agencies. It was unveiled last month by the administration after a process criticized by some for excluding their involvement. It now will be the subject of public hearings in which critics and advocates can weigh in on how the draft plan should be improved. (Johnson, NJ Spotlight)
