Urban Development

New Jersey is known as the “Garden State,” and yet it is not clear whether agriculture will remain viable here. New Jersey Future would like to prepare a baseline assessment report on farmland preservation in a 13-county region, describing existing conditions and trends, identifying obstacles to achieving desired long-term outcomes, describing relevant plans and policies and recommending long-term performance metrics. This is a well-developed project which will allow a student to work closely with the organization’s Senior Director of State Policy to inform and support preparation of a Regional Plan for Sustainable Development.

New Jersey is known for its “multiple municipal madness,” causing fragmented decision making that has led to sprawl as well as disinvestment in communities throughout the state. Its 21 counties have taken on (and been given) increasingly more responsibility for regional planning, beyond what was originally envisioned by the enabling legislation, and the organization wants to learn about the current activities of each county planning office in order to develop a comprehensive picture of planning practice in the state. This project offers the potential to be recognized as a contributor, or possibly co-author, of the final report.

-- Note that New Jersey Future is open to working with students beginning in spring 2013 --

New Jersey Future's website